England vs. Iceland: Another Euro exit for Britain?

Since squabbles over shipping lanes during the "Cod Wars" between 1958 and 1976, relations between Iceland and England have been cordial. Well, that was until the 330,000 from the former were left puzzled at the larger island's European Union exit last Friday.

"It's unbelievable. We are surprised and disappointed by it in Iceland," Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson, a national team veteran of 16 years, told theScore.

"They're going back many years in a way of living and in the way the world works today. We believe in absolute freedom and no borders. It was sad news."

And there's a growing concern in England it could face its second European exit in the space of a week, when Roy Hodgson's disjointed side pits itself against an inspired Iceland in Nice on Monday.

This match could be much closer than many would've anticipated when Euro 2016 kicked off earlier in June.

Injuries and suspensions

England

Injuries: Adam Lallana (doubt)

Quarter-final suspension if booked vs. Iceland: Gary Cahill, Ryan Bertrand

There are questions over Lallana's fitness after the Liverpool man was seen with bandaging around his ankle on Friday, but Hodgson didn't speak on the matter in Sunday's press conference.

Iceland

Injuries: none

Quarter-final suspension if booked vs. England: Birkir Bjarnason, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Birkir Saevarsson

In a land where inhabitants breathe sulphur-filled air and fish in freezing Atlantic waters, you'd expect them to be pretty hardy. No injuries for Iceland.

Projected lineups

England starting XI: Hart; Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Rose; Alli, Dier, Rooney; Sturridge, Kane, Sterling

Iceland starting XI: Halldorsson; Skulason, R Sigurdsson, Arnason, Saevarsson; Gudmundsson, G Sigurdsson, Gunnarsson, Bjarnason; Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson

What to watch

Unfortunately, Gunnleifsson was "devastated" when he was left out the Euro 2016 squad despite providing a valuable supportive and coaching role in tandem with being third-choice 'keeper during qualification. But he, like the whole of Iceland, has embraced this band of heroes.

"Nobody knows how to act. Everybody's in a happy shock here," he explained. "We had about 99.6 percent watching the game against Austria - it's absolutely unbelievable what it's doing to our nation."

Somewhat characteristic of the underdog nation's psyche, however, is that the Icelanders won't rest on their laurels.

"Everybody's expectations in Iceland - including the team - is that we're going to beat (England). It's as simple as that."

It would take a brave punter to bet against Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson's ranks. The work rate and physicality of the likes of Kari Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, and Aron Gunnarsson have Iceland in raptures, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson should have earned a move to a more prestigious team than third-tier Charlton Athletic.

The starting XI is set in name and defensive structure, and Hodgson will have returned to the drawing board after Monday's turgid 0-0 draw against Slovakia. It again showed an indecision in which system to adopt for the tournament.

A midfield diamond was initially seen as an option, but it nullified the threats of Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy, and Harry Kane during the preseason warmups. Then a 4-3-3 was deployed, which only served to highlight how badly Raheem Sterling is lacking in belief, and how Kane may be suffering from burnout after 119 professional outings since August 2014.

Daniel Sturridge should start. When fit, the Liverpool man displays a narrow-mindedness that's so important in a prolific forward, but when he's shunted into a wider role his menace is somewhat reduced. He's a natural finisher, so should be eking out half chances and putting his toe on the end of crosses in the middle of the attack.

Hodgson has got to get the best out of 20-year-old Alli. Tottenham Hotspur's box-to-box midfielder is the most exciting Englishman since Paul Gascoigne, but hasn't been allowed the freedom afforded at club level. To rid him of his national team shackles, switching Lallana with a more combative and deep-lying Jack Wilshere may be a wise alternative.

There are already whispers around Hodgson's future following apparent discontent among his superiors due to his selection policy, so - whether it's pretty or not - a win is the only requisite for the Football Association.

Prediction

However hard-working the Icelanders are, it's hard to imagine a scenario where Kane, Sturridge, or Vardy aren't presented with a gilt-edged chance. A tight and potentially unattractive game, but one where England should book a meeting with host France in the quarter-finals.

England 1, Iceland 0