England's Euro 2016 exit to Iceland still hurts admits Liverpool's Adam Lallana
Thursday 1 September 2016 07:11, UK
Adam Lallana has admitted England's humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland still hurts - but insists the squad are now fully focused on the future under new boss Sam Allardyce.
England's 2-1 defeat in Nice was followed - within minutes of the final whistle - by Roy Hodgson's resignation with Allardyce taking over last month ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
And Lallana believes the new manager will mean a new beginning for a team with everything to prove when they take on Slovakia in Trnava on Sunday.
We failed and we're not shy to hold our hands up that we should have done better. We should have beaten Iceland and we know we should have done.
"I think it will always hurt anyone who was involved but we have to move on - it's all we can do," said the Liverpool midfielder.
"We've got a new manager and a lot of new staff so it's important we start afresh.
"We were all really disappointed with what happened in the summer and Sam has made it clear he's got new ideas and a different philosophy.
"Training's been very energetic - we've only had two or three sessions but it's been enjoyable. He's been relaxed towards us. I think he was wary we could be low on confidence after what happened in the summer.
Although Lallana did not play against Iceland he accepts the England squad failed collectively to deliver on the big stage. However, he does not think what happened in France will have any bearing on Allardyce's thinking.
"Unfortunately for the country in the summer we failed and we're not shy to hold our hands up that we should have done better. We should have beaten Iceland and we know we should have done.
"I wasn't worried about being associated with (what happened to) England. Football's a sport and you can win or lose.
"What's important now is how we react and work with the new manager. It's no good sulking and worrying about whether he's going to pick me. The gaffer said he's going to put trust in us - that's important and we respect that."
