England vs Iceland: Rio Ferdinand ‘embarrassed’ by Euro 2016 defeat and ‘worst ever’ performance

Roy Hodgson, Jack Wilshere and Raheem Sterling were all criticised by the former international

Ferdinand was less than impressed with England's showing (BT Sport)

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand was scathing in his criticism of England, following their shambolic Euro 2016 exit to Iceland.

In his role as a pundit for the BBC, Ferdinand labelled the display as: “The worst performance I've seen from an England team ever.”

In a wide ranging critique of a performance he called “embarrassing”, Ferdinand also attacked Roy Hodgson’s team selection and tactics.

'If you get into a tournament and you don't know your best team or your best formation you're running into trouble and it was proven in all the games we played.

“From start to finish it has been pretty hopeless,” he added.

The defender, who won 81 caps for England from 1997 to 2011, singled out the selection of Jack Wilshere as a mistake, with the Arsenal midfielder having barely played last season.

"How on earth can he pick Jack Wilshere? He hasn't played 90 minutes for over a year, played 141 minutes in a season. How on earth can he be deemed fit enough or good enough to represent England?”

Ferdinand’s ire was not only reserved for Hodgson. He also turned on the players, in particular Raheem Sterling.

“Our players caved tonight. It's not about pressure.”

“Raheem Sterling, he's put his neck on the line for him and he hasn't performed, hasn't been playing for his team.”

The disappointment was all the more acute for the former Manchester United player, as he had high hopes going into the tournament that a youthful England team was heading in the right direction.

“I was excited by this England team and I think I was led up the garden path a little bit because qualifying was so easy,” Ferdinand said.

“I didn't expect us to win this tournament and I didn't say we were ever going to have a chance of winning it, but I thought we'd come out with a little bit of positivity.”