Kevin Keegan, the former England manager, insists the Three Lions will comfortably overcome Iceland in the European Championship last-16 today and could then “maybe go all the way” and win the event.
England finished second in Group B to Wales, although they beat their British rivals 2-1, but lacked potency in 1-1 and 0-0 draws against Russia and Slovakia respectively despite dominating possession.
As such, England were plunged into arguably the more difficult half of the knockout phase, with the tournament hosts France, defending champions Spain and Germany potential opponents if they beat Iceland. But Keegan, who managed England for 18 games between 1999 and 2000 and who captained his country at Euro 1980, insists there have been “lots of pluses” for Hodgson’s men so far.
“They’re still in there fighting and they’ve got Iceland next and it won’t be easy, but it’ll be a match they’re expected to win,” he told Gulf News in a telephone interview. “Then you’re into the last eight and anything can happen.”
The 65-year-old former Newcastle United and Manchester City manager added that England need more creativity and ruthlessness in attack in order to break down the Nordic minnows.
He also said the below-par Harry Kane should not start, after the Tottenham forward’s lethargic performances in France, and urged goalkeeper Joe Hart to temper his pre-match rallying cries and maintain composure.
“England have just got to play a little better, find another 15 or 12 per cent and a little bit more creativity and a better ball into the box,” said Keegan, a pundit on beIN SPORTS’ exclusive Middle East television coverage of Euro 2016, who cited Kyle Walker, Adam Lallana and Wayne Rooney as England’s standout performers at the group stage.
Clean sheet
“I think we’ll beat Iceland. I’m going to go for something like 2-0. I think we will keep a clean sheet.
“That’s not a problem, it’s the game after that when I guess we’ll be up against France. That’ll be tough, but imagine if you win that game and you knock the hosts out in their own capital.
“Then you can think about maybe going all the way.”
However, Keegan warned that Iceland will be “no pushovers”, having finished unbeaten and second in Group F after two draws and a win.
Their feats are all the more astonishing given they are the smallest nation to have qualified for a major football tournament – “there are only 320,000 people there, which is the size of Coventry, isn’t it?”.
“They’re very determined and very well organised and they do they have a little bit of a threat which some of the other smaller teams didn’t have,” Keegan, a former striker who scored 21 goals for his country in 63 appearances between 1972 and 1982, continued.
“I wouldn’t play Harry Kane at the moment because I just think he looks like he’s run his race for the season,” he added. “He just looks like he’s hit a brick wall. He looks heavy legged, he doesn’t look like he’s got any spring in his step, so he might be better on the bench and coming on as an impact player.”
Cool heads will be essential for England in Nice and, to this end, Keegan expressed reservations about Hart’s fiery demeanour.
“Is he too hyped up and is he solid enough?” he questioned, referring to the Manchester City goalkeeper’s tendency to bellow encouragement to his teammates in the tunnel before games.
Factbox
Live on Bein Sports
Pre-quarter final
England vs Iceland, Chantilly
Kick-off: 11pm UAE
