ENGLAND’s EURO 2016 campaign was one to forget.
And that is exactly what has happened to some of the players included in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the tournament in France.
The Three Lions limped out the group stage – finishing second to Wales after beating their neighbours 2-1 but only managing 1-1 and 0-0 draws against Russia and Slovakia respectively.
And then embarassingly losing 2-1 to European minnows Iceland in the last-16 put the icing on the cake.
Hodgson swiftly resigned and here SunSport looks at what has happened to the squad since.
GK: JOE HART
One of the biggest falls from grace since England’s disappointing showing in France.
Manchester City goalkeeper at the time but after mistakes against Wales and Iceland he returned to the Etihad to be swiftly axed by new manager Pep Guardiola.
Has since flopped for West Ham and Burnley in England since after a loan season with Serie A side Torino.
Currently provides backup for Hugo Lloris at Tottenham.
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GK: TOM HEATON
Heaton was impressing at Burnley in the lead up to the tournament and was expected to be a fairly regular inclusion for England for years to come.
He continued to feature consistently at Turf Moor the following season but a serious shoulder injury at the beginning of the 17-18 campaign saw him out for 202 days.
Nick Pope came in and impressed and Heaton, 35, left for Aston Villa in the summer of 2019.
But after claiming the No1 jersey for the early part of the campaign, he picked up another season-ending knee injury at Villa Park. Joined Manchester United on a free transfer in early July.
GK: FRASER FORSTER
Concrete No2 behind Hart going into the tournament after an excellent season for Southampton.
Has since fallen out of favour at St Mary’s and in the Three Lions setup.
Spent the 19-20 season on loan at Celtic and was dropped from England altogether in August 2017.
He returned to the Saints for the last campaign but Alex McCarthy is their No1.
DEF: RYAN BERTRAND
Not much changed for the left-back who was still playing for Southampton until the end of last season.
He played a full 90 minutes against Slovakia in the Euros.
Had a decent run in the Three Lions team throughout 2017, but has not featured since November of that year. Agreed to join Leicester on a free transfer in early July and signed a two-year deal.
DEF: GARY CAHILL
The then Chelsea centre-back was an England regular and Hodgson’s vice-captain ahead of the tournament.
Blues form gradually started to dip in the next two seasons as he aged and eventually left for Crystal Palace in 2019.
Cahill became a fixture in the Eagles backline but was one of 22 released at the end of last season and is currently a free agent.
DEF: NATHANIEL CLYNE
The impressive Liverpool right-back at the time always had an uphill battle trying to usurp Kyle Walker for England.
And then he had the same problem at Anfield when Trent Alexander-Arnold burst onto the scene during his absence.
A serious knee injury meant he did not play a single minute for the Reds in 19-20 and became a free-agent having been released.
Clyne re-signed for boyhood club Palace where he played 13 league games in 20-21 but was released along with Cahill and is a free agent.
DEF: DANNY ROSE
Rose was playing some of his best football for Tottenham in 2016 and was a shoe-in at left-back.
He has made 15 England appearances since – but his last came in 2019.
Was loaned to Newcastle in January last year after being frozen out of the Spurs squad.
Didn’t play a single minute of Premier League football last season but sealed a move to Watford in June 2021.
DEF: CHRIS SMALLING
Smalling was a Hodgson favourite from their time together at Fulham and the former Manchester United defender was a starting choice alongside Cahill in France.
Never fully cemented his spot at Old Trafford since and spent 19-20 on loan at Roma.
After impressing in Italy, the centre-half remained in the capital after signing permanently in October 2020.
DEF: JOHN STONES
The mercurial talent was still with Everton at the time and was considered too much of a risk on the ball to be given a starting XI spot.
He finalised his move to Man City when he returned from Euro 2016 but faced the prospect of leaving last summer having failed to hit the spectacular heights that were expected of him.
But he turned his form around since, partnering Ruben Dias in defence as City secured last season’s Premier League title.
Has been a key figure for England at Euro 2020 and is playing the best football of his career.
DEF: KYLE WALKER
Walker followed Stones to City a summer later and has been a huge success.
He has been a permanent feature for Guardiola since his summer 2017 move from Tottenham.
He has had starting XI challenges for both club and country but remains one of England’s and the Premier League’s best defenders.
MID: DELE ALLI
Fans had big hopes for the Tottenham playmaker before the tournament.
Afterwards, he became a regular for Spurs under Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, who was sacked in November 2019 and replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Alli got off to a good start under Mourinho, but was then axed following a drastic dip in form.
The midfielder has been bombed out the England set up too and recently said he only has himself to blame for his recent struggles.
MID: ROSS BARKLEY
Described as ‘one of English football’s great hopes’ pre-tournament.
His performances for Everton earned him a big-money move to Chelsea in 2018.
He was in and out of the starting 11 but when Frank Lampard came in as manager in 2019, Barkley was given chances.
However, he joined Aston Villa on in September 2020 – where he has impressed with Jack Grealish.
His future remains unclear having returned to Chelsea.
MID: ERIC DIER
Scored England’s opening goal of the tournament with an impressive free-kick and looked set to be a permanent fixture for seasons to come.
However, he has been disappointing the last couple of years before finding form and a more regular place under Jose Mourinho.
Signed a new contract last summer – to the surprise of many – and recently claimed he is the victim of an unfair narrative.
MID: JORDAN HENDERSON
Had a disappointing season in the tournament build up and was anything but a guaranteed starter.
But has transformed himself since and was integral in Liverpool’s first title win in 30 years.
Has even shown his versatility for Jurgen Klopp, filling in at centre-back with Virgil van Dijk sidelined for the season.
Scored his first ever England goal during the Three Lions’ 4-0 win over Ukraine at Euro 2020 and celebrated wildly.
MID: ADAM LALLANA
Started all of England’s group games but was replaced by Daniel Sturridge for the awful Iceland defeat.
The playmaker has been a solid enough player since, moving to Brighton last summer for a relegation battle having been limited to appearances off the bench in his final season at Anfield.
MID: JAMES MILNER
Mr Reliable had been an England regular since his 2009 debut.
He had just played his first season at Liverpool but Euro 2016 proved to be his last major tournament for England as he retired soon after Sam Allardyce was announced as manager.
The 35-year-old bagged his third Premier League winner’s medal in 19-20.
MID: JACK WILSHERE
Wilshere was a late inclusion in the squad despite only playing THREE games for Arsenal that season.
He made just two appearances off the bench during the tournament. The injury-plagued midfielder spent the following season on loan at Bournemouth playing 27 times in the league.
The 29-year-old managed 38 appearances in all competitions on his return to Arsenal the next campaign.
But having left for West Ham in the summer of 2018, he made just 20 first team appearances for the Hammers because of recurring injuries and returned to Bournemouth in the summer.
Released by the Cherries at the end of the 20-21 campaign.
FW: HARRY KANE
Was and still is England’s most gifted No9 and has since become Gareth Southgate’s captain.
Still a guaranteed starter for the Three Lions which does not look likely to change soon despite the emergence of a wealth of options.
Wants to leave Tottenham this summer and scored three goals for England in their run to the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark.
FW: WAYNE ROONEY
Played in a deeper lying midfield role in France after being utilised there for Manchester United on occasion.
Will always be remembered for being England’s highest goalscorer and appearance maker with 53 from 120 games.
Eventually retired from international football in 2018 and has played for Everton, DC United and Derby County, where he is now manager.
FW: DANIEL STURRIDGE
Drafted in to start in place of Lallana for the last game against Iceland having been condemned to the bench until then.
Has since left Liverpool where he played the best football of his career and spent 19-20 on loan at Trabzonspor.
Currently without a club.
FW: JAMIE VARDY
Still going at 34 for Leicester.
Picked off the back of the Foxes’ famous title win but still could not oust Kane.
Won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award in 19-20 and still refuses to come out of international retirement, which he announced in 2018.
FW: MARCUS RASHFORD
Now a stalwart for England and Manchester United.
At just 18 he had burst onto the scene and into United’s side and now – though still only 23 – seems like he has been around forever.
Still plenty to come.
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