England’s final warm-up match before Euro 2024 ended in disappointment with a 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley. Manager Gareth Southgate made several changes to the lineup following Monday’s victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the performance fell far short of expectations.
Iceland, who famously eliminated England from Euro 2016, exploited defensive lapses, with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scoring the only goal in the 12th minute. Substitute goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, filling in for Jordan Pickford, could have done better with Thorsteinsson’s low shot.
England struggled offensively, with Harry Kane missing a crucial chance and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer showing promise but failing to convert opportunities. The team looked disjointed and lacked sharpness, raising concerns ahead of their opening Euro 2024 match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.
Defensively, England appeared vulnerable, allowing Iceland multiple chances to extend their lead. To add to the woes, key defender John Stones was substituted at half-time after a heavy knock, compounding the defensive issues with regular partner Harry Maguire already ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Southgate faces significant challenges as he finalizes his squad and tactics for the upcoming Euros, hoping to address the weaknesses exposed in this underwhelming performance.
