Harry Kane: England learned lessons from shock Euro 2016 exit to Iceland

Down and out: The Three Lions were left stunned by Iceland in 2016
AFP via Getty Images
Jack Rosser @JackRosser_4 September 2020

Harry Kane says England have come a long way since the Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland, one of the "toughest nights" he's experienced as a Three Lion.

Gareth Southgate's side, who have since reached a World Cup semi-final and the finals of the Uefa Nations League, face Iceland for the first time since that fateful meeting in Nice, which saw then-manager Roy Hodgson resign hours later.

England captain Kane is one of four players in the current squad who were involved when they were knocked out of Euro 2016 because of that 2-1 defeat, and says the experience of that night has helped him and grow.

"It was definitely one of the toughest nights I've had in an England shirt," said Kane. "It is a game that I have definitely learned from, that was my first intentional tournament at the time, I was still inexperienced at that level and even club level really.

"Throughout my career I've always tried to take nights like that to learn and improve from. I think I have done that as a person.

Euro 2016: England vs Iceland In Pictures

1/26

"The team has definitely improved over the last four years, those games are always in your mind and you always think about what you could have done better.

"We've moved on well, we're in a great place as a squad. We've got an exciting team. We're all just really excited to be back playing for England. Everyone's looking forward to it."

Hodgson was replaced by Sam Allardyce following his resignation and, after the former Crystal Palace and Bolton boss stepped down following just one game, Southgate followed soon after.

European press celebrates Iceland's win over England

1/3

The 50-year-old has since - around two years ago - made his players watch that Iceland game back, among others, in order to learn and progress as a side - something he feels has paid of in their performances now.

"For us as coaches the biggest thing from the Iceland game was the patience once you go behind," said Southgate. "Very often you prepare a team for 0-0 and you don't like to talk about when you go behind.

"In any game of football, no matter how well you are playing the opposition can score a goal out of nothing.

"Then the decision making under pressure, the patience to wait for better opportunities is something we've added as a team over the years. We've talked about it a lot.

"The players know that if we're behind, we keep playing the way we're playing and make the right decisions on when to take shots and when not to take shots and getting in those better areas.

"I think that's part of the development that's happened and definitely we used that experience as one of a few to learn from."