England will head into Euro 2024 off the back of an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to Iceland.
An early goal at Wembley was all that separated the two sides on Friday night, with Iceland reopening the Three Lions’ wounds of their Euro 2016 exit.
Gareth Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after such an uninspiring display as his side were booed off at full-time.
How the game unfolded
Inside 12 minutes, Iceland took their shock lead. The visitors did well to beat the England press and caught Kyle Walker caught out of position with a swift attack down the left. Jon Thorsteinsson fired his side in front, lashing a fierce shot under Aaron Ramsdale at the near post.
England nearly found a leveller soon after going behind when Declan Rice pressed goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson into a poor clearance, with Cole Palmer intercepting and firing at goal, only for retreating defender Daniel Gretarsson to block his effort off the line.
Palmer then turned provider for Harry Kane with a teasing cross in from the right, but the Three Lions captain fluffed his lines and his volley from six yards whistled over.
After the break, Phil Foden was next to try his luck, dragging a cutback from Anthony Gordon narrowly wide of the far post.
Another chance went begging when Palmer tried to round Valdimarsson, but the Chelsea star took the ball too wide and his eventual shot was deflected behind.
Iceland should have doubled their on the counter when Andri Gudjohnsen was able to skip in behind a sleeping England backline and roll the ball in for Thorsteinsson, who this time slipped when shooting and the hosts were mercifully let off the hook.
Southgate made several substitutions as England went in search of a leveller, and two of them combined to create their next opening – Trent Alexander-Arnold got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Ivan Toney, whose effort bounced over.
Deep into stoppage time, Alexander-Arnold had a low cross clipped past the far post, but that was as close as England came to an equaliser.
GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 5/10 – Hard to lay all the criticism at his door for the goal at his near post. Did well to save a vicious half-volley during the second half.
RB: Kyle Walker – 3/10 – Caught completely out of position for Thorsteinsson’s opener. Didn’t provide anything in attack either. Could be in danger of losing his spot to Alexander-Arnold if he’s going to be this…
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