England 3-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Three Lions seal victory in first EURO2024 sendoff

The first 45 minutes of England’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday evening were far from the prettiest, but a strong second-half showing allowed Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions to commence their EURO2024 sendoff on a high note.

Cole Palmer slotted home a convincing effort from the penalty spot to open the scoring on his full England debut, before Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane wrapped up proceedings within the final five minutes of regulation time.

Monday’s clash was held at St James’ Park due to Wembley Stadium being out-of-action following Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final, but England will now return to the capital city and face Iceland under the arch at 19:45 BST on Friday.

Gareth Southgate will then confirm his finalised 26-man squad for EURO2024, with the Three Lions scheduled to face Serbia in their first match in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.

Embed from Getty Images

As it happened

For seven players in this provisional England squad, the next week will be crucial. It will decide whether they’re heading to Germany to represent their country at EURO2024, or if they’re to be watching on from home with family and friends.

But if you’d tuned in for the first half, you perhaps wouldn’t have been able to tell. England were frankly uninspiring, with a well-placed ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the midfield through to Ollie Watkins proving to be the best chance of the opening quarter-hour on Tyneside.

Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze was impressive throughout the evening, driving forwards on numerous occasions and jinking through the defence to create chances – but a lack of ruthlessness closer to goal cost the Three Lions, with the match remaining goalless at the break.

By contrast, the second half was a much more promising display from the hosts. Allowed freedom to roam further up the pitch, Alexander-Arnold quickly established himself as the crucial cog in the heart of the England midfield – but it would be a foul on Ezri Konsa that allowed Cole Palmer to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

Embed from Getty Images

It would be Palmer’s last involvement of the evening before he was replaced by Harry Kane though, with a plethora of other substitutes entering the fray – including Crystal Palace’s young midfield talent, Adam Wharton.

Despite being just twenty years of age, the former Blackburn Rovers player has every right to feel hard done by if he is not included in Southgate’s final squad after an impressive cameo appearance at St James’ on Monday.

The majority of the goalmouth action was reserved for the final five minutes though, with Alexander-Arnold deservedly doubling England’s lead with a low volleyed strike that crept past Nikola Vasilj – and the Three Lions needed just another four minutes before Kane pounced from close range to complete the late goalscoring rout.

Embed from Getty Images

While a three-goal win and a clean sheet may look fantastic on paper, Gareth Southgate and his men have plenty to work on over the course of the next two weeks to ensure their performance in Germany echo those of the second half in Newcastle if they’re to truly be considered as favourites for EURO2024.