Hodgson: I think England is good enough to beat Iceland
Roy Hodgson hasn't provided the most convincing endorsement of England's ability to overcome Iceland on Monday, saying he merely thinks his side can beat the smallest country to make a major international tournament.
Iceland has surprised many by going undefeated in Group F to finish above Portugal and book a Round of 16 meeting against the Three Lions, and now it appears the volcanic island has Hodgson quaking.
"We desperately want to stay in the tournament and I think we are good enough to stay in it," he told reporters Sunday.
Hodgson, who has spent a significant portion of his managerial career in Nordic countries, added: "The character of the Icelandic people is their determination, their ability to survive hardship."
Captain Wayne Rooney sat alongside his gaffer and, after joining Pep Guardiola and Daniel Sturridge in pledging support for an out-of-sorts Raheem Sterling, was asked about his supposed fractious relationship with Jamie Vardy.
But Hodgson stepped in, saying: "I advise him 'no comment' as it is one salacious story someone has managed to spin.
"There are no problems. They are close friends on and off the pitch."
Rooney did have his say on the upcoming match, however, noting how organised Iceland is defensively and how the country's population of just 330,000 - around the same as Coventry - isn't important.
"Iceland difficult to break down. We have to move the ball quick. We respect Iceland. The size of the country is a number," he said.
Rooney: "There's no point in me speaking about how it'd feel to face #FRA because we have to get there." #eng
— England (@England) June 26, 2016
In the land of fire and ice, its footballing representatives have already emerged as national heroes, but earlier in the day co-manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said beating England could take things to a whole new level.
"If we beat England, their lives will change forever, and significantly. Icelandic football will go up in reputation and the way we approach football will be different," he told the media.
The victor of Monday's tie will take on host France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday.