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Roy Hodgson's Everton snub is a silver lining
Substitutes Kyle Walker, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Ross Barkley sing the national anthem prior to the Group B match against Slovakia.
Just two outfield players failed to play a single minute of England's abject Euro 2016 campaign.
And for that Ross Barkley and John Stones should be eternally grateful.
The humiliation by Iceland – yes, Iceland, the country of 330,000 and whose national sport is handball – will scar the careers of all who were part of it.
The unused Everton duo should be relieved their fingerprints are nowhere near the biggest footballing crime perpetrated on this country for 66 years.
The players involved against Iceland may not have David Beckham style effigies created to taunt them, but the mental scars will still be deep set.
And the hangovers could endure for some time.
Is Anfield's worst, Roy Hodgson, now England's worst?
At least the Everton duo will return to pre-season training with their reputations intact.
Roy Hodgson's refusal to use John Stones was understandable, given the youngster's unconvincing campaign with the Blues, but his decision not to take Phil Jagielka was baffling.
The Everton captain was never going to be used in France, but Barkley could have been.
Against Slovakia, with England toiling to break down a well organised and resilient rearguard, Hodgson reintroduced two players he had chosen to rest.
Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli added nothing new.
England's Jamie Vardy and Ross Barkley (right) during a training session at Stade de Bourgognes, Chantilly.
Against Iceland, Hodgson opted for the clearly not match-sharp Jack Wilshere.
Barkley was left chewing gum in the dug-out.
Throughout his short England career there has been a suspicion that Ross Barkley's maverick talents weren't trusted by his manager.
But trailing 2-1 to the land of fire and ice, with Wayne Rooney misplacing every pass he attempted and Dele Alli's intelligent runs being largely ignored, Barkley's ability to drive at a defence and pick out a pass would have been useful.
They were ignored.
But rather than grind his teeth in frustration, Barkley should breath a sigh of relief.
Criticised by some of his club's supporters last season, the last thing he needed was to be part of a national calamity.
Every French cloud has a silver lining.
- 09:18, 28 JUN 2016
- BY DAVID PRENTICE
Substitutes Kyle Walker, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Ross Barkley sing the national anthem prior to the Group B match against Slovakia.
Just two outfield players failed to play a single minute of England's abject Euro 2016 campaign.
And for that Ross Barkley and John Stones should be eternally grateful.
The humiliation by Iceland – yes, Iceland, the country of 330,000 and whose national sport is handball – will scar the careers of all who were part of it.
The unused Everton duo should be relieved their fingerprints are nowhere near the biggest footballing crime perpetrated on this country for 66 years.
The players involved against Iceland may not have David Beckham style effigies created to taunt them, but the mental scars will still be deep set.
And the hangovers could endure for some time.
Is Anfield's worst, Roy Hodgson, now England's worst?
At least the Everton duo will return to pre-season training with their reputations intact.
Roy Hodgson's refusal to use John Stones was understandable, given the youngster's unconvincing campaign with the Blues, but his decision not to take Phil Jagielka was baffling.
The Everton captain was never going to be used in France, but Barkley could have been.
Against Slovakia, with England toiling to break down a well organised and resilient rearguard, Hodgson reintroduced two players he had chosen to rest.
Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli added nothing new.
England's Jamie Vardy and Ross Barkley (right) during a training session at Stade de Bourgognes, Chantilly.
Against Iceland, Hodgson opted for the clearly not match-sharp Jack Wilshere.
Barkley was left chewing gum in the dug-out.
Throughout his short England career there has been a suspicion that Ross Barkley's maverick talents weren't trusted by his manager.
But trailing 2-1 to the land of fire and ice, with Wayne Rooney misplacing every pass he attempted and Dele Alli's intelligent runs being largely ignored, Barkley's ability to drive at a defence and pick out a pass would have been useful.
They were ignored.
But rather than grind his teeth in frustration, Barkley should breath a sigh of relief.
Criticised by some of his club's supporters last season, the last thing he needed was to be part of a national calamity.
Every French cloud has a silver lining.
