Former England manager Roy Hodgson has defended his decision to put Harry Kane on corners during the national side's ill-fated Euro 2016 campaign and dismissed such criticism as "nonsense".

England were ignominiously knocked out of the competition by minnows Iceland, leading to Hodgson's immediate resignation.

The national side managed just one victory from their four games in France, beating rivals Wales 2-1, and were subject to intense criticism throughout the tournament.

Hodgson's decision to put forward Kane on corner responsibilities drew particularly sharp abuse from England's supporters - but the 69-year-old has dismissed such criticism as "nonsense".

“They are nonsense," he said. "People should be ashamed of those things. Why shouldn’t Harry Kane take corners? If he happens to be the best striker of a ball in the team and gives you the best delivery why shouldn’t he do it?"

Hodgson also came under scrutiny for making six changes to the side that beat Wales prior to their 0-0 draw with Slovakia in England's final group stage game.

But speaking in a recent interview with the Big Issue, the ex-Liverpool boss remained fiercely defiant about his decision-making and England legacy as a whole.

Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Show all 11 1 /11 Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio (Portugal) Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Right-back: Joshua Kimmich (Germany) Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Centre-back: Jerome Boateng (Germany) Jerome Boateng Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Centre-back: Pepe (Portugal) PP Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Left-back (Raphael Guerreiro (Portugal) Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Centrel midfield: Joe Allen (Wales) The man who makes Wales tick in midfield has had an exceptional tournament, directing their play and cutting through opponents with his passing. His club career is at a crossroads this summer, with one year left on his contract and some reluctance to sign a new one at Liverpool. Swansea City and Stoke City are trying to sign him this summer but he would be entitled, after these performances, to look higher than that, whether in the Premier League or further afield. He is certainly good enough, although he is also committed to ensuring as much playing time as possible in his peak years. Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Central midfielder (Germany) tk Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Attacking right midfield (Dimitri Payet) Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Attacking central midfield: Aaron Ramsey (Wales) ar Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Attacking left midfield: Antoine Griezmann (France) Antoine Griezmann has been named the Euro 2016 Player of the Tournament Getty Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Getty

“And the ‘six’ changes are actually four changes from the team who were on the field at the end of the game against Wales," he added. "Questions would have been asked if I’d left out Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge after they came on as substitutes at half-time and scored [against Wales].

“What’s more, working with a squad of players, people would also ask why didn’t I give a chance to Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere, Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne, who are four excellent players.

“I was totally uninterested in those type of comments, which I regard as purely irrelevant and dishonest. No one whose opinion I respect would have said anything like that, otherwise I would have heard about it.”

England's players were ignominiously knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland (Getty)

Hodgson admitted that in spite of the humiliating circumstances surrounding his resignation, he remains "very proud" of what he achieved with England.

“I certainly didn’t feel suicidal and I certainly didn’t feel self-doubt either because I think probably the four years, especially the last two years after the World Cup, fashioning a team from a very young group of players, many of whom weren’t even in their club side, and playing the sort of football we were capable of playing – we were playing very, very well.

Roy Hodgson resigned as England manager after defeat by Iceland (Getty)

“I am very, very proud of that achievement. I think it is probably the best work, in many ways, that I did or have done so far."