COMMENTNot that it matters particularly now, with Roy Hodgson's time as England manager already consigned to history, but he must have hoped the Three Lions' historic defeat to Iceland would be somehow vindicated in the quarter-finals.
But Hodgson and the bruised England national team could not even enjoy that small respite. The plucky islanders were destroyed 5-2 by France in Sunday's Euro 2016 last-eight clash, a one-sided non-contest that never looked like turning out any other way.
Commenters on social networks could not help but make unfavourable comparisons between the effortless evening enjoyed by Didier Deschamps's men and England's nightmare. And they had every right to, as the brave Scandinavians were shown up as the honest but ultimately limited team they are by a far superior opponent.
The two games enjoyed an intriguingly similar opening. Where England took the lead in the first few minutes with Wayne Rooney's penalty, Olivier Giroud had a clear run on goal to smash the hosts ahead. There, however, the similarities ended.
Hodgson's men allowed Iceland to make their way back into the game with some comically poor defending and a general failure to take control of the match. France squeezed the life out of the underdogs, making sure that nothing would be left to chance. Most importantly, they went straight back on the hunt for the second goal, which duly arrived via Paul Pogba's header.
I hope the England players are being forced to watch this game, they could learn a thing or two #FRAISL #EURO2016
— Sean Lemon (@badman_sean) 3 de julio de 2016
This result is making things worse for us England fans
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) 3 de julio de 2016
England, already humiliated by Iceland, are now being humiliated by proxy by France.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) 3 de julio de 2016
Can't see why we were so critical of England. Look how difficult France are finding it playing against Iceland.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) 3 de julio de 2016
Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann extended the advantage before half-time with two fine finishes. It was a far cry from the desperate England attacks at the end of the last 16 tie, lacking any precision or finesse. Granted, it is much easier to play two or three goals up than one down, but even so, Iceland's failings were exploited in a manner England could never manage.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson gave the massive Icelandic following something to cheer with a great finish to pull the score back to 4-1, but even then France were determined to hit back again. In an overwhelming triumph of common sense that eluded Harry Kane and England at set-pieces, Giroud was in the box to receive a free-kick rather than taking it and he got his reward with a second goal, France's fifth.
In professionalism, attitude, technique and execution Les Bleus laid bare all of their rivals' failings, and their prize is a semi-final meeting with Germany. Iceland's heroes may well have had nothing left in the tank after their earlier exploits - let us not forget, this was the fifth consecutive match Lars Lagerback named an unchanged starting XI - but the ease with which they were put to the sword is a further damning indictment on the underachieving Three Lions.