England 0-1 Iceland LIVE RESULT: Three Lions end preparation for Euro 2024 in worst possible way at Wembley
ENGLAND have ended their preparation for Euro 2024 with a 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley.
The visitors took a shock lead midway through the first half after Jon Thorsteinsson's emphatic strike beat Aaron Ramsdale.
Harry Kane’s scuffed effort almost got England back on level terms but for the frame of the goal.
In the second half, Gareth Southgate’s side failed to provide a real test for Iceland keeper Hakon Valdimarsson as the Three Lions jet off to Germany on the back of a 1-0 defeat.
- Match result: England 0-1 Iceland
- England team: Ramsdale, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Mainoo, Rice, Palmer, Foden, Gordon, Kane
- Iceland team: Valdimarsson, Bjarkason, Gretarsson, Ingason, Finnsson, Traustason, Gudmundsson, Haraldsson, Thorsteinsson, Gudjohnsen, Anderson
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England 0-1 Iceland
12. It's just a warm-up match, right? It doesn't really matter, does it?
That's fortunate because England are behind against the minnows of Iceland again following a smart finish by Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson.
Once on the books of Fulham, the striker drives forward from the left, cuts inside John Stones, and powers a low shot into the bottom corner.
Aaron Ramsdale should undoubtedly do better, but then that's why he's been playing second fiddle at Arsenal, let alone England.
A shock lead!
England 0-0 Iceland
11. Walker is in the action again as he stays alert to win possession back from Thorsteinsson.
The visitors, meanwhile, have settled down and are beginning to pass the ball around neatly.
That'll be Pep's influence again!
England 0-0 Iceland
9. Stones, Walker and Palmer link up very well down the right.
However, the trio are unable to open up an Iceland unit that has fallen back into a very deep 5-3-2.
England 0-0 Iceland
8. Mainoo tries to wriggle through three defenders at the same end of Wembley in which he scored that wonderful goal in the FA Cup final.
Calm down, son. You're not playing Manchester City now.
England 0-0 Iceland
6. Walker does well to cut out a clever pass inside the right-back.
Thorsteinsson's eyes had momentarily lit up at the opportunity until he realised how quick the England defender was.
England 0-0 Iceland
4. Stones is back up and in the game, and England are on the front foot.
A Kane curler from the left is cut out, and then Palmer puts over a dangerous cross that is well cleared by Ingason.
England 0-0 Iceland
2. Less than two minutes on the clock, and already there is cause for concern.
John Stones is down and nursing a saw one after being landed on by a determined Thorsteinsson.
Kick-off - England v Iceland
1. Referee Davide Massa blows his whistle, and Cole Palmer gets matters going with a long pass back to Aaron Ramsdale in goal.
England are all in white. Iceland are all in blue. Steve McClaren is in the Sky Sports News studio.
Here come the two teams!
No Jack Grealish. No Harry Maguire. The England squad is short of some familiar faces as they make their way out of the tunnel and on to the Wembley pitch for a final send-off before heading to the European Championships.
But Gareth Southgate's squad is littered with exciting young stars, many of whom get the chance to impress again this evening.
They led by an old head in Harry Kane, and backed-up by the experience of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier too.
Across from this pack of Three Lions, the Iceland squad don't have anything close to the same resources, but they looked enthused to be here and focused on the job at hand.
National anthems, team photographs and pre-match formalities follow, and now it's time to get matters underway.
Southgate: Nothing decided yet
Gareth Southgate insists that there are still starting places up for grabs in terms of next Sunday's Euro 2024 opener against Serbia.
Asked before kick-off this evening whether the starting line-up that he has selected to face Iceland will be the one that kicks-off in Germany, the England boss insisted that nothing is set in stone.
It's close, but none of that is decided yet. There are players who didn't play the other night, some of whom arrived late so it was better for them to play in this one rather than the last one. We were really pleased with the performance at Newcastle and we need to build on that tonight.
Stars put through their paces
As the England squad go through their warm-ups, much of the chatter around Wembley tonight revolves around Phil Foden, and where exactly the Premier League's Player of the Year will operate - both this evening, and in Germany.
Many would prefer to see Foden in a central position which would mean Cole Palmer out on the right tonight, but will the Man City ace back out wide with the return of Jude Bellingham next weekend?
Flash Gordon buzzing for Euros
Anthony Gordon was crowned Newcastle's Player of the Year last month, and is now planning to take his impressive performances on to the international stage.
The flying winger - who starts this evening - was confirmed in Gareth Southgate's squad of 26 for the European Championships yesterday, and excitedly admits that he can't wait to get going.
It's an absolute dream and honour to be called up to represent this amazing country at a tournament. I can't wait to get there now.
Anthony Gordon
England huge faves for warm-up win
Patriotic punters may be drawn in to backing England to win the Euros this week, but there may not be quite as many enthused by the 1/16 about the Three Lions prevailing this evening.
Then again, they were a similar price back in 2016...
- England win 1/16
- Draw 17/2
- Iceland win 20/1
correct at time of post publication.
Brentford and Burnley stars in Iceland XI
Age Hareide's names a couple of players familiar to Premier League fans in his Iceland side to face England at Wembley.
Goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson is yet to make his debut for Brentford since making his January move to West London, but he starts between the sticks this evening.
And captaining the visitors is Johann Berg Gudmundsson, one of the better performers as Burnley were relegated from the top-flight.
Up front for Iceland is Andri Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, and grandson of 73-cap international Arnor Gudjohnsen.
Iceland (4-3-3): 12 Valdimarsson; 15 Bjarkason, 6 Gretarsson, 5 Ingason, 14 Finnsson; 21 Traustason, 7 Gudmundsson, 10 Haraldsson; 9 Thorsteinsson, 22 Gudjohnsen, 18 Anderson
Subs: 1 Olafsson, 13 Gunnarsson, 2 Sampsted, 3 Thorarinsson, 4 Bjarnason, 8 Sigurdsson, 11 Tomasson, 16 Thordarson, 17 Fridriksson, 19 Johannesson, 20 Magnusson, 23 Hlynsson
Credit: @footballiceland on X
Kane captains much-changed Lions
Gareth Southgate makes eight changes to the England side that started against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park on Monday.
Marc Guehi starts again in central defence, perhaps hinting at who is in pole position to partner John Stones against Serbia next Sunday in the absence of Harry Maguire.
The other two to keep their places are Kieran Trippier - once again left-back with Luke Shaw unfit - and Cole Palmer, so impressive during his debut season at Chelsea.
Captain and top scorer Harry Kane is back in the side along with the Premier League's Player of the Year, Phil Foden.
England (4-2-3-1): 1 Ramsdale; 2 Walker, 5 Stones, 6 Guess, 3 Trippier; 8 Mainoo, 4 Rice; 7 Palmer, 10 Foden, 11 Gordon; 9 Kane
Subs: 13 Henderson, 22 Pickford, 24 Trafford, 12 Gomez, 14 Quansah, 15 Konsa, 16 Gallagher, 17 Toney, 18 Watkins, 19 Alexander-Arnold, 20 Bowen, 21 Eze, 23 Wharton, 25 Saka
Credit: @England on X Good evening from Wembley Stadium
Welcome to live SunSport coverage of the international friendly between England and Iceland.
It's exactly one week until Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, and tonight the Three Lions play their final warm-up match before getting down to business in Blankenhain.
And what better way to prepare for a tournament in which they are expected to go far in than with a game against the country that showed them up in the same competition eight years ago.
Iceland humiliated Roy Hodgson's side in Nice at Euro 2016, but failed to make the cut this time around.
Yet a match against England at the home of football often brings out the best in visiting nations, and a capacity crowd can expect a competitive contest.
Gareth Southgate has now confirmed his squad of 26 for the championship, and we expect to see many of those this evening as they build up minutes before next Sunday's opener with Serbia.
It's a 7.45pm start in the capital, and confirmation of the starting line-ups is on the way.
