This all could have been avoided if Joe Hart didn’t have rubber wrists.
England were leading against Iceland at Euro 2016, Wayne Rooney put them ahead from the penalty spot, and they were on course to reach the quarter-finals and a respectable defeat to France.
Iceland equalised from a long-throw, and then a few minutes later Kolbeinn Sigþórsson hit a tame shot that Hart failed to keep out. England froze, Iceland went through, Roy Hodgson immediately resigned, Sam Allardyce got the job, beat Slovakia and then a few weeks later lost it in controversial circumstances.
The 61-year-old left his position after an investigation by the Telegraph allegedly showed Allardyce appearing to say there are ways to get around the FA’s rules on third-party ownership.
Unsurprisingly, the reaction in newspapers hasn’t been kind towards Allardyce.
The Times‘ headline reads: “Wretched. Unacceptable. Seduced by power.”
Wednesday's Times Sport:
Wretched. Unacceptable. Seduced by power#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/E8eTGhZBcK— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
Henry Winter accuses Allardyce of “hubris” and argues for Eddie Howe to be his successor. The Bournemouth manager “could be a beacon of hope”, according to Winter.
The Telegraph reckons the Allardyce debacle is “English football’s lowest ebb,” which seems a bit dramatic given their history and the fact they were knocked out of the Euros by the smallest country to ever qualify for a major tournament.
However, according to Paul Hayward, this is English football’s “day of reckoning.”
Wednesday's Telegraph Sport:
'This is English football's lowest ebb, it's day of reckoning'#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/5VyFIQ1bDJ— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
The Daily Star carry-on the “day of reckoning” theme and want Gareth Southgate to save them. Good luck with that.
Wednesday's Daily Star back page:
Save us Gareth #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/3qvE0P5ztg— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
“TOXIC” screams the Mirror.
Wednesday's Daily Mirror back page:
Toxic#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/R1rxXfVdcl— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
The Sun can’t resist a pun.
Wednesday's Sun front page:
Fired Man Sam#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/tdklyKH9aj— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
And the Daily Express can’t take a day-off.
Wednesday's Daily Express:
12,000 asylum seekers vanish#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/653SLf2UBK— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
Wednesday's Guardian Sport:
Wham, bam, goodbye Sam#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/vIWF7e4rZY— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 27, 2016
Catch up on the first episode of Football Friday Live…
