England’s preparations for Euro 2024 ended on a sour note with a lackluster defeat to Iceland at Wembley.
Manager Gareth Southgate, who made several changes following the win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, witnessed his team deliver a sluggish performance. Iceland capitalised on England’s defensive frailties, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale unable to stop Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s early strike.
Key defender John Stones had to be substituted due to injury, adding to Southgate’s concerns as Harry Maguire is already sidelined for the tournament. Despite some bright moments from Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon, England appeared rusty and disorganised, failing to sustain pressure on Iceland’s goal and managing only one shot on target.
The match, intended as a morale-boosting send-off for the squad before their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, instead exposed vulnerabilities and raised questions about the starting line-up.
The performance drew jeers from the Wembley crowd, reflecting the disappointment of losing to a team ranked 72nd by FIFA. Iceland’s dominance continued into the second half, nearly increasing their lead. As the players conducted a subdued lap of appreciation, the sparse crowd underscored the evening’s failure to inspire confidence ahead of the tournament. Southgate will hope this match helped eliminate some rust, but it did little to foster optimism for England’s Euro 2024 prospects.
