PARIS: England coach Roy Hodgson says Iceland counterpart Lars Lagerback deserves to have a statue made in his honor after leading the small Nordic country to its greatest soccer success.
Under the Swede, Iceland qualified for its first major tournament and remains unbeaten as it prepares to face England in the round of 16 at the European Championship.
Hodgson and Lagerback were coaches together in Swedish club soccer in the 1970s and 1980s, with Lagerback following Hodgson's lead in using a back four.
Hodgson says Lagerback's contribution to Swedish soccer is "fantastic" and praised him for making teams like Iceland "unbelievably difficult to beat."
Hodgson adds that "his chances of a statue are a damn sight greater than mine."