Euro 2016: England can still win the tournament - but let's get past Iceland first, says Jimmy Bullard

I'm glad we've avoided Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal but Iceland are no mugs and you can't write them off

Jimmy Bullard
Saturday 25 June 2016 10:50 EDT
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Wayne Rooney will lead England against Iceland in the Euro 2016 last-16
Wayne Rooney will lead England against Iceland in the Euro 2016 last-16 (Getty)

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The tournament really starts now and we won’t have a better chance of getting to the quarter-final of a major tournament. Iceland have proven they’re no mugs and you can’t write them off, but you would’ve taken facing them in the last 16 before the tournament begun. I think we’ll have too much for them on Monday night and although they’ll set up defensively and try to frustrate us, we’ve got the quality to win that game comfortably.

We very nearly got Portugal but I’m glad we managed to avoid them and especially Ronaldo. Portugal haven’t actually played too badly and I think they’re due a win. Ronaldo is obviously just getting started after his two goals the other night and there’s no doubt he would’ve been buzzing to face England.

Roy Hodgson’s been getting a lot of stick for making changes against Slovakia on Monday night but that’s what the squad is for. There’s no point taking 23 players and only using 11 of them. It’s a long tournament and it’s important to be as fresh as you can for each game. The boys that came in are good enough to do a job. What’s the point in bringing them otherwise?! It was disappointing not to win the group but the likes of Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli will be 100 per cent fit and raring to go on Monday night.

Finishing second means we’ve got a tough route if we want to get to the final but you’ve got to beat the best teams if you want to win the competition. Assuming we get past Iceland, France are no great shakes and the pressure will be on them in front of their home crowd, so who’s to say we can’t win that?! It could be the German’s in the semi and by that point anything is possible. I actually think we’re better suited to playing some of the better sides as they will open up and have a bit of a go at us. We’re a team that likes to play on the counter so that could work to our advantage.

I backed our boys before the tournament and I’m sticking by it. We’re difficult to beat and if we can find that extra bit of quality at the other end of the pitch then who knows. Let’s get past Iceland first and see where we go.

There’s been some decent players on show at the tournament but Gareth Bale has been my pick of the bunch so far. Hands down he is Wales’ best player but he has lead by example. It’s his first major tournament for Wales and he hasn’t disappointed. He has scored a couple of blinders and when you have him in your team you’ve got a chance. If he stays fit and on form then Wales could go far in the competition.

My inch defining moment of the week is Wes Hoolahan’s inch perfect pass for Robbie Brady to stick his nod on the end of and send Ireland through to the knockout stages. A great pass, great header and well deserved win for the Irish – especially after Wes missed a sitter just a few minutes before – fair play to the lad.

Fastest finger first! Football legend Jimmy Bullard has teamed up with Carling to celebrate Carling’s Pay Per Inch promotion. Make sure your finger is on the pulse before anyone else and bag yourself a TV for the price of its screen size at www.PayPerInchTV.com. Follow @Carling on Twitter for more information.

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