England 0-1 Iceland: Final EURO2024 warm-up game ends in defeat for the Three Lions

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s first-half goal was the difference between England and Iceland at Wembley on Friday evening as Gareth Southgate’s side ended their EURO2024 preparations in defeat.

A positive performance at St James’ Park in Newcastle on Monday against Bosnia and Herzegovina was not followed up in the capital, as the Three Lions head to Germany on the back of a loss.

As it happened

A lively start from Chelsea’s Cole Palmer gave Harry Kane an opportunity inside the opening three minutes with the captain finding himself with space in the box, but his effort was blocked by Iceland’s defence.

Attempting to open up the defence of the visitors, Phil Foden played a cross-field pass to Kieran Tripper on the left, but nothing came of the chance as England patiently increased their attack.

Anthony Gordon then looked to be in space down the left, using his pace to beat the back line of the visitors, but his ball into the box was dealt with and Iceland were then on the attack themselves, against the run of play, with a ball in behind to Thorsteinsson. The 25-year-old utilised his speed and the space down the left to work the ball towards Aaron Ramsdale – in for Jordan Pickford – before cutting inside John Stones and firing a low shot past the keeper at 12-minutes.

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England had looked to be in control of the game, but a powerful strike beating Ramsdale at the near post gave the visitors the lead with the deadlock broken. The chasing game began for the home side as they desperately looked to bring the score level, determined not to end their EURO2024 preparations in defeat.

Declan Rice increased the pressure on Valdimarsson with his efforts paying off when the goalie rushed a clearance and the ball fell to Palmer in the box, but he couldn’t convert the chance and the ball was sent out for a corner that would be headed away by the Iceland defence with ease.

Southgate encouraged his players from the sidelines to keep pushing for the equaliser and Harry Kane was the closest to finding it at 28 minutes – it was a clever run to get on the end of a perfect pass from Cole Palmer from the right edge of the box, but the captain fired his shot over from six-yards out.

Iceland looked to rub further salt in the wound as half-time lingered with Traustason looking for his side’s second, striking from the left, but Guehi made the goal-saving block to protect Ramsdale, conceding a corner in the process. England managed to dissolve the threat of the resulting corner and went into half-time trailing by one, with only one registered shot on target themselves.

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There was only one change for the Three Lions as the game restarted with Stones replaced by Konsa after taking a heavy knock early on in the game.

A positive start was brought to the England fans inside Wembley courtesy of Anthony Gordon who played the ball in from the left to the captain who sent it just wide of the post. Gordon persisted, this time teaming up with Palmer down the left before cutting back to Foden who shot just past the far post.

It was a domineering start to the second period for Southgate’s side but they were yet to be rewarded for their offensive prowess. Declan Rice played a spectacular pass to Palmer, splitting open the defence of the visitors, but the forward shot wide as Iceland conceded a corner.

Gudmundsson tested Ramsdale with a volleying strike in the 57th minute before winning their first corner of the half at 58 minutes, but England dealt with the pressure and cleared the danger.

Even a quadruple substitution at 64 minutes for the hosts couldn’t find them a goal. Ivan Toney was quick to jump in on the action, but he was tracked well by the defence of the visitors who made a tackle that resulted in another corner being awarded to England. Still, the Three Lions couldn’t create anything from the set-piece opportunity.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold advanced down the right as the game entered the final 20 minutes before playing the ball to Ivan Toney who found space in the box, but the Brentford forward’s shot just missed the target as Iceland continued to possess the lead.

Iceland continued to play balls that made England look vulnerable at the back with Southgate now without his centre-back pairing of choice: Harry Maguire left out of the squad due to not being fully fit and John Stones forced off with injury at half-time. At 75 minutes, Alexander-Arnold got back in time to deal with a long ball over the top from the visitors, conceding another corner in the process.

The corner was cleared initially before falling to Finnsson, unmarked at 30-yards out and the left-back volleyed the ball towards Ramsdale who just got his fingertips to the shot, preventing a two-goal deficit for his side to chase.

Toney headed over Alexander-Arnold’s swinging free kick with ten minutes left before Mainoo curled his shot just wide of the target at 84 minutes. Despite five minutes of injury time added, England couldn’t find the equaliser. Gareth Southgate’s side begin their EURO tournament in just nine days’ time.

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