England lost to a supermarket again.
All jokes aside, what was going on? I fear the flashbacks of the 2016 euros when Iceland knocked England out.
With the first game in the euros fast approaching, this was not the English send-off they wanted on home soil.
Why did Southgate not start? Pickford is the number 1 goalkeeper why did he not put his euros starting 11 out of the pitch so they could practice and play in a game scenario? Is that not the whole point of friendly? England has yet to win at Wembley in 2024 and broke a 70-year record of being unbeaten for four games at home. These are not the records Southgate hoped to have broken as manager.
However, there were vital takeaways with the absence of Bellingham due to the Champions League final. This benefits the likes of Foden, who is currently playing on the wing; however, Pep Gaudolia plays in a central position, which has provided 27 goals for his club this season. This would help England's lack of execution in the final third. I hope Southgate plays Foden, Bellingham, Saka and Cole Palmer. The latter had an impeccable game with so many chances that he could not or others could not capitalise on. He is perfect for relieving the pressure on Kane, who people are wondering where are all those guys and why he wasn’t scoring for England last night the way he did all season in the Bundgelisa league.
It will be interesting to see what Southgate does with Toney and Watkins. Will they be bench warmers to come in at 60 minutes to rest Kane, or will they start it alongside him for relief purposes?
The only specific player in the midfield is Declan Rice. His past Euro partnership with Kalvin Philips is not happening this time around. Who would be partnered up? In the Iceland game, Kobbie Mainoo, who has had a breakout season for the club, looked too conservative. It is a lot of pressure to put on a teenager, especially going into their first major tournament. But it seems they are all plenty young, with 20-year-old Adam Wharton as a possible contender who did impress against Bosnia and impacted his short time on the pitch. But the most ambitious and surprising choice would be Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is a right-back but has so much creatively on and off the ball and a range of passing abilities that would be impactful in creating balls into the penalty box and has created such perfect dangerous opportunities and assist in his time remember that corner against Barcelona for starters.
Saka v Palmer.
Palmer has scored in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Community Shield and on the international stage this season. He has a 100% penalty-taking record this season, though admittedly less long-term experience. He is content not at right flank with Saka, who has also had a good season for the club. It is an excellent place to have so many young, strong players who have played big games for the club this season and are mentally equipped for that pressure. Plus, it gives Southgate the opportunity for rotation and to rest players or bring players to change the game at the hour mark.
But Southgate has more issues after finally announcing his 26-man team starting 11 defender John Stones had to be replaced at halftime by Marc Geuhi. However, he is not an inadequate substitute. There is concern about the fitness of Stones, who has only played 15 games in 2024 for Manchester City. But possibly the early sub was precautionary to prevent further damage to the ankle so he could play the first game against Serbia. Another area of stress is in the left-back position. With the uncertainty of the fitness of Luke Shaw and Trippier looking off-pace in that position, Southgate has a lot to think about. These are not hard decisions to make but show how England players’ fitness is of great concern and could cause them more significant problems in Germany.
It seems that the nightmares were all over the pitch, the lack of a particular back four and lack of pressure up front with the like so f Gordon and Palmer having more of the luck than the veterans of Kane and Foden. No place on that pitch is up to the standards of the fans.
The most shocking statistic from this game against Iceland is that Kane failed to register a shot on target. The goal by Jon Daguerre Thorsteinsson in the 12th-minute game gave England fans all they needed to boo their team at halftime, but that did not seem to drive them to secure. To think England is the booker's top position to win the euros when they cannot even beat Iceland with possibly one of the most expensive squads in the world at their fingertips. One would think their beefing no Spurs players for the first time in a Euros squad since 1992 would bring them some good luck, but maybe the stigma follows the likes of Harry Kane wherever he goes.
Match Stats
Possession
ICE 38% ENG 62%
Attempts
13
Off-target
2
On Target
4
5
Corners
7
4
Fouls
2
7
Lineups
England
- 1
- Aaron Ramsdale
- 2
- Kyle Walker
- 5
- John Stones
- 6
- Marc Guehi
- 3
- Kieran Trippier
- 8
- Kobbie Mainoo
- 4
- Declan Rice
- 7
- Cole Palmer
- 10
- Phil Foden
- 11
- Anthony Gordon
- 9
- Harry Kane
Substitutes
- 13
- Dean Henderson
- 12
- Joe Gomez (s 64')
- 16
- Conor Gallagher
- 17
- Ivan Toney (s 64')
- 18
- Ollie Watkins
- 19
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (s 64')
- 20
- Jarrod Bowen
- 21
- Eberechi Eze (s 76')
- 22
- Jordan Pickford
- 23
- Adam Wharton
- 25
- Bukayo Saka (s 64')
- 14
- Jarell Quansah
- 24
- James Trafford
- 15
- Ezri Konsa (s 46')
Iceland
- 12
- Hakon Valdimarsson
- 15
- Bjarki Bjarkason
- 6
- Daniel Gretarsson
- 5
- Sverrir Ingi Ingason
- 14
- Kolbeinn Finnsson
- 21
- Arnor Ingvi Traustason
- 7
- Johann Berg Gudmundsson
- 10
- Hakon Arnar Haraldsson
- 22
- Andri Gudjohnsen
- 9
- Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson
- 18
- Mikael Anderson
Substitutes
- 1
- Elias Olafsson
- 13
- Patrik Gunnarsson
- 2
- Alfons Sampsted
- 3
- Gudmundor Thorarinsson
- 4
- Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason
- 8
- Arnor Sigurdsson (s 83')
- 17
- Valgeir Fridriksson (s 90')
- 19
- Isak Johannesson (s 83')
- 20
- Saevar Magnusson
- 23
- Kristian Hlynsson
- 11
- Logi Tomasson
- 16
- Stefan Pordarson (s 64')
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