England host Iceland at Wembley on Friday night in what is the final warm-up friendly before the squad sets off for the European Championships.
Gareth Southgate has finalised his 26-man squad ahead of Uefa’s formal deadline, and while the debate around inclusions and exclusions will rage on, those in the squad will be aiming to secure their place in the starting eleven with a good showing this evening.
Notable absences from the 26 include centre-back Harry Maguire and Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, with James Maddison, Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Trafford the others to miss out. These exclusions mean that there are a few places up for grabs in the starting side, with players such as Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Guehi all vying for a spot.
Expect Southgate to name a fairly strong starting eleven as he aims to see how a young, new-look squad has gelled before the Euro 2024 group stage opener against Serbia on 16 June. Follow all the build-up and team news below.
FT: England 0-1 Iceland
So, a famous Wembley win for Iceland to go with their even more famous win against the Three Lions at Euro 2016.
Not a good game for Southgate at all, by any stretch. England were simply disjointed, lacking any sort of cohesion in attack, and were weak in defence when it mattered.
It’ll be different come the opening game on 16 June, when there’s something important on the line, but that was not a performance that will fill any England fan with confidence.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:41
FULL-TIME! England 0-1 Iceland
95 mins: FULL-TIME! Mainoo wins the ball back and threads it through to Toney, who is brought down. Maybe one more chance for England?
It’s not to be, as the referee blows the final whistle and Iceland have their first ever win at Wembley!
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:38
England 0-1 Iceland
94 mins: Eze plays in a cross that is narrowly taken off the head of Saka at the back post. England recycle possession and it comes to Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the box. He drives in and hits the cross across goal, and it’s deflected behind for a corner.
Gomez hits it wide in what may well be the last meaningful action of the game.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:37
England 0-1 Iceland
92 mins: Not a bad idea from Alexander-Arnold to try and feed in Saka, but the Arsenal man misjudges the pass.
Iceland bring on Lunddal Fridriksson for Thorsteinsson.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:35
England 0-1 Iceland
91 mins: A nice idea from Rice as he hooks a ball through to Saka, but the Arsenal man was offside just before Mainoo half-volleyed a shot wide.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:34
England 0-1 Iceland
90 mins: There’ll be five minutes added on. Five minutes for England to salvage result in a home friendly against Iceland.
Alexander-Arnold fizzes in a cross but it’s cleared.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:33
88 mins: England are lacking any cohesion in attack as the game approaches 90 minutes, with another cross ending up in the arms of Valdimarsson.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:32
England 0-1 Iceland
86 mins: Many heading for the exit already, and you can’t blame them.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:29
England 0-1 Iceland
85 mins: Saka tries to hit a cross to Eze at the back post, but it overruns and is out for a goal kick.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:27
England 0-1 Iceland
82 mins: Iceland make changes, as Bergmann Johannesson and Sigurdsson come on for Haraldsson and Gudmundsson.
Mainoo is the latest to hit a long-range effort over the bar.
Chris Wilson7 June 2024 21:26
