ENGLAND 0, ICELAND 1
What ought to have been a victorious send off to the finals of Euro 2024 proved anything but that as they were beaten by Iceland, ranked 72nd in the world.
If England thought a repeat of the humiliating loss to Iceland, a country with a population little more than the city of Coventry, in the finals eight years ago would never repeat itself, they were mistaken.
This was a desperately poor performance from Gareth Southgate’s side as this was the first time in 56 years England had lost a warm-up match before heading to a major tournament. They also head to Germany with only one win in their last five games.
An early goal from former Fulham player Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson proved decisive though, in reality, Iceland could have won by a wider margin.
England managed 598 passes but only one shot on target, a damning statistic when you look at the attacking riches Southgate has at his disposal.
The England manager will need a rethink before England kick off their Euro campaign against Serbia a week on Sunday after struggling to breach Iceland’s massed defensive ranks.
But credit to Iceland, managed by former Manchester City player Age Hareide, for their highly disciplined display. They soaked up pressure and were dangerous on the break against an England defence which is a major cause for concern if minnows can cause so much trouble.
Southgate said: “We have to be better. We didn’t get our pressing right. There were questions asked that we weren’t able to answer.”
“It was obviously a disjointed and disappointing performance. We didn’t show enough character but I think it’s good for us before an international tournament.
“I think we’ve got to be better without the ball. I think that there were a lot of reasons for that and across the two games we probably haven’t had our full side out across any two games. We’ve been able to look at people, we’ve been able to learn about the balance of the team.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of last matches leading into a tournament. Inevitably players have one eye on what’s coming in terms of early challenges. No excuses on the result but there are a lot of things we can put eight quickly.
Embed from Getty Images“We would have like a good performance and see the crowd entertained and leave on a high.
“The level of performance was not at the level it should be, but there are reasons for it. It gives us the chance to focus the mind and get the reaction we need and talent alone won’t get us this trophy and we just have to stroll in.
“You have to be spot on to win games at this level, and tonight we were far from it. There is a lot for us to improve on.
“It was far from ideal – I am not dressing it up. It was disappointing but we have to stay calm.”
Declan Rice added: “When we have that much of the ball, we have a couple of clear-cut chances and get beat 1-0 at home just before a Euros is not ideal. But there were a lot of positive performances.
“In the end it becomes a frustration game, you’re chasing your tail a little bit and get caught on the counterattack. It’s not ideal we lost but there’s a lot of learning curves you can build on as a team.”
“There’s no doubt about our quality on the ball as a collective. Maybe against the teams that sit in it’s about being a bit mentally switched on. I felt at times we were a little stretched, not as compact as we usually are. Inside I’m hurting and between now and the next game there’s work to be done.”
Southgate made seven changes from the side which kicked off against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park on Monday.
Kyle Walker, Kieran Tripper, Marc Guehi and Cole Palmer were the sole survivors.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was in goal with Everton’s Jordan Pickford on the bench.
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo was handed a start in midfield as were Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.
By my reckoning, seven of tonight’s starters will kick off the Euro 24 campaign against Serbia with only Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Jordan Pickford and possibly
Trent Alexander-Arnold absent.
The Iceland starting line-up included Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson and Burnley’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson while Blackburn Rovers’ Arnor Sigurdsson was on the bench.
England made a bright start but were stunned when Iceland snatched a 12th minute lead.
Thorsteinsson cut in from the left and, from just inside the box, beat Ramsdale low at his near post as Wembley was silenced.
England ought to have equalised just short of the half hour. Palmer delivered a delightful cross from the right but Harry Kane fired over from six yards when he ought to have netted his 64th international goal.
Overall, though, it was a turgid first-half performance from England against an Iceland side with nine and 10 players behind the ball and hoping to catch the hosts on the break.
And on the stroke of half time Iceland almost added a second when Arnor Ingvi Traustason saw a goalbound shot deflected by Kobbie Mainoo for a corner as they left the field to some boos.
England made a change at the break as Ezri Konsa replaced Stones who picked up an ankle injury in the opening minutes. He is only just easing his way back from a lay-off.
And they came close to levelling in the 48th minutes when Foden fired narrowly wide from Gordon’s cross.
Kane then released Palmer with a great pass, but the Chelsea man saw his shot flash into the side netting.
Palmer was put through and rounded keeper Valdimarsson only to be drive too wide as his speculative effort from an impossible angle was blocked for a corner.
Iceland should have scored a second on the break when Hakon Amar Haraldsson burst clear down the right and crossed for Thorsteinsson who completely miskicked when it looked as though he could not miss.
England made a quadruple change in the 63rd minute as Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Kane and Gordon were replaced by Alexnader-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Ivan Toney and Saka.
It failed to improved England’s fortunes as Iceland were denied a second by a super save from Ramsdale to keep out Sverrir Ingason’s far-post header from a corner.
Ramsdale had to be alert again to tip over an audacious 30-yard volley from Haraldsson before Southgate made a sixth change, Eberechi Eze replacing Palmer.
Alexander-Arnold went close in the fourth of five added minutes with a deflected cross-cum-shot as England left the field to even louder boos.