England 4, Iceland 0
Phil Foden scored two late goals as England beat 10-man Iceland in a dead rubber UEFA Nations League game at Wembley.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt 20 years and 174 days, Foden became the youngest England international to score more than once in a game at Wembley as he opened his account for England in style.
And he was one of three players under the age of 21 or younger to score in the same match for England for the first time since February 1883.
Goals by Declan Rice and Mason Mount, both 21, had put England in control after a dominant first half but the scoreline only reflected the balance of play in the last ten minutes as Foden opened his international account with a brace after England had taken their foot off the gas against an ageing and passive Iceland side.
Only Tyrone Mings, Jordan Henderson, and Ben Chilwell were changed from the defeat at Belgium – all for injury reasons – and they were replaced by Bukayo Saka, Harry Maguire, and Foden.
There was a touching tribute at Wembley to remember former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence – a goalkeeper shirt was laid out behind one of the goals where it stayed throughout the game.
And Gareth Southgate played a strong side in the 3-4-3 formation with Jack Grealish starting again after his performance against Belgium.
But he was outshone on the night by three other younger guns, including a fine performance from Manchester City midfielder Foden who put his transgressions following the England game in Iceland earlier this year behind him.
Admitting it wasn’t his finest hour, he said: “It was one of the toughest moments in my life and I am happy to repay [Gareth Southgate’s] faith with goals.”
But he was delighted with the goals he scored, one being laid on by a familiar face – former City youth team mate Jadon Sancho. Foden said:
“I played with Jadon in the youth team [at City]. It was an unbelievable feeling [to score for England].”
Although he was always going to be praised for scoring the brace, he added: “I need to work more on scoring goals from outside the box.”
Food for thought for City boss Pep Guardiola?
England were reminded of their ignominious defeat in Marseille four years ago when Jon Dahl Bodvarsson almost got on the end of a long ball from Iceland.
But Iceland, rock bottom whipping boys of the group, had started with five men at the back and lacked ambition.
England carved out chances and got a couple of goals in a dominant first half in which the visitors never even had a shot on the England goal and should have had more.
Rice opened his England account with a glancing header from a curling 20 yard free kick by Foden after 20 minutes.
Mount played in midfield but doubled the lead by stabbing the ball home from 6 yards out after Iceland failed to clear a Saka cross which was touched into his path by Harry Kane.
Despite the defensive looking line up England were adventurous, with defenders like United captain Maguire playing further up in a high line.
Foden was one of England’s better performers, forcing a save from Ogmundur Kristinsson after a Maguire cross, but also shooing straight at him with another chance.
Kristinsson got down to tip away shots from Foden and Kane and Iceland had every right to be wary of England on the break with Kane shooting wide after the visitors lost the ball in their own half.
Kane headed wide from a Trippier cross from three yards out as England tried for a third against their organised opponents before the break.
Hannes Thor Halldorsson replaced Kristinsson in goal for a farewell appearance for Iceland at the start of the second half.
Phil Foden strikes twice to give the scoreline a more accurate look
England had slowed up significantly after the break which also helped their cause.
But the Icelanders’ job was made more difficult after 54 minutes when Birkir Mar Saevarsson was giving his marching orders for a second yellow card after he pulled down Saka as he ran into the box.
Kari Arnason found some space with Kane day dreaming as he headed wide of the near post from an Ari Freyr Skulason corner before the hour mark – their first shot.
And Arnason denied Kane a tap in when he stretched to clear a ball from the left for the England captain.
There were some England changes as Kyle Walker and Mount came off after 64 minutes to be replaced by Mings, and Harry Winks while Kane and Grealish were relieved by Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham after 76 minutes.
And England had to be patient, pulling Iceland out of shape, before Saka passed to Sancho who slipped in his former City team mate Phil Foden to rifle in his first England goal inside the back post from 10 yards out with 10 minutes to go.
And Foden doubled his tally on the night four minutes later with after Winks gave the ball to him and the City youngster curled the ball inside the near post with a low drive from 20 yards out.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was Southgate’s final change on the night, replacing Kieran Trippier.
And Foden could have set up Saka with a delightful cross from the right for a fifth but the Arsenal youngster headed wide.
GOALS – England 4, Iceland 0
England 1, Iceland 0: 20. Declan Rice glanced home a swung in a free kick from Phil Foden.
England 2, Iceland 0: 24. Mason Mount stabbed home from close range after Harry Kane and touched a half cleared cross from Bukayo Saka into his path.
England 3, Iceland 0: 80. Phil Foden swept home a lay off by Jadon Sancho from 8 yards out inside the back post after a move down the England left.
England 4, Iceland 0: 84. Phil Foden fired home from 20 yards out, bending the ball inside the right hand upright after Harry Winks gave him the ball.
MATCH STATS – England 4, Iceland 0
England: Pickford, Walker (Mings 64), Maguire, Dier, Trippier (Maitland-Niles 85), Mount (Winks 64), Rice, Foden, Saka, Grealish (Sancho 76), Kane (Abraham 76)
England subs not used: Pope, Keane, Chilwell, Calvert-Lewin, Henderson, Bellingham
Booked: Walker
Goals: Rice 20; Mount 24; Foden 80, 84
Iceland: Kristinsson (Halldorsson 46), Ingasson, Arnason, Hermannsson, Saevarsson, Palsson, Bjarnason, Skulason, Sigurjonsson (Eyjolfsson 62), Gudmundsson (Thorsteinsson 73), Bodvarsson (Sigthorsson 73)
Iceland subs not used: Runarsson, Sampsted, Johannesson, Baldursson, Gudjohnsen, Sigurdsson
Booked: Saevarsson; Ingason; Arnason
Sent off: Saevarsson 54
Referee: Fabio Verissimo