England v Bosnia LIVE: Result and reaction from Euro 2024 warm-up as Kane and Alexander-Arnold add late goals
England 3-0 Bosnia: A scrappy England performance was salvaged by Kane and Alexander-Arnold late on after Cole Palmer’s penalty
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Trent Alexander-Arnold capped an impressive individual display with a tremendous volley as England beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 in their latest Euro 2024 warm-up friendly.
Preparations for this summer’s shot at silverware stepped up at St James’ Park as players got a chance to stake their claim for a place on the plane, or even a starting role against Serbia.
Cole Palmer’s spot-kick was followed by an excellent Alexander-Arnold effort and late Harry Kane goal on a night that provided manager Gareth Southgate with plenty of food for thought ahead of Friday’s final squad submission.
Eberechi Eze and Palmer produced positive displays on their first England starts, with the latter opening his international account after Ezri Konsa, another impressive performer, was fouled in the box. Alexander-Arnold did well on his latest audition in midfield but had reverted to a more familiar right-back role when he scored a superb late volley that substitute Kane added to.
Relive all the action from England versus Bosnia below:
Team news
No first caps for a new England player yet then, with the uncapped quintet all on the bench to start with.
All five will be hoping to see some action tonight – there are no limits to the number of substitutions permitted – though it may be difficult for Trafford to get on considering neither of Ramsdale or Henderson are in the starting XI.
Expect at least one debutant later tonight though, with Branthwaite, Quansah, Wharton and Jones all battling for a place on the plane.
Team News
Plenty of changes for England then, with Gareth Southgate making seven changes to the side that drew 2-2 to Belgium in the last international break.
Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier come into defence in place of John Stones and Ben Chilwell, while Southgate opts for Alexander-Arnold and Gallagher in midfield in place of Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo.
Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are replaced by Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze in attack, with Watkins coming in for Ivan Toney up front.
Line-ups
ENG XI: Pickford; Konsa, Guehi, Dunk, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Eze; Palmer, Watkins, Bowen.
SUBS: Ramsdale, Gomez, Branthwaite, Quansah, Rice, Toney, Grealish, Maddison, Kane, Jones, Henderson, Wharton, Trafford.
BOS XI: Vasilj; Ahmedhodzic, Bicakcic, Katic; Gazibegovic, Saric, Tahirovic, Radeljic; Hajradinovic; Demirovic, Gigovic.
Is England vs Bosnia on TV tonight? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Euro 2024 warm-up fixture
Just over an hour until kick-off now, so here’s a reminder of how you can watch tonight’s warm-up game.
The match kicks off at St. James’ Park in Newcastle at 7.45pm BST.
The game will be broadcast on Channel 4, with coverage starting at 7pm. Subscribers can also stream the game via Channel 4’s website and app free of charge, with a a sign-up via email all that is needed.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.
Is England vs Bosnia on TV tonight? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch
Everything you need to know before England’s first warm-up game ahead of Euro 2024
Plenty of these players will be looking to cement a place on the plane to Germany on 8 June.
The stage is set for the first pre-Euro 2024 match.
Lovely weather in the north of England!
England vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Match Stats
Perhaps surprisingly, tonight’s meeting between these sides is the first time that the two have met.
This will be the first meeting between the two nations in any competition, though Bosnia and Herzegovina are unbeaten in their seven games against British nations this century (W4 D3). Their last loss on UK soil came against Scotland in 1999.
For England, this will be the first game at St. James’ Park since 2005, when the Three Lions beat Azerbaijan 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
England are unbeaten in their last eleven friendly matches against European nations (W8 D3) since losing 3-2 away at France in June 2017, but their last two matches – friendlies against Brazil and Belgium respectively – produced disappointing results.
Similarly, Bosnia and Herzegovina have lost their last four matches, conceding 13 goals across these games, including a 2-1 loss to Ukraine in their Euro 2024 qualifying play-off.
When does Euro 2024 start?
The summer’s main football competition begins on 14 June in Munich, where hosts Germany will play Scotland in the opening game of Group A.
The games come thick and fast from 15 June onwards, with three matches per day on all but one day between 15 June and 23 June.
Selected fixtures from the opening round include:
GROUP B – Spain vs Croatia, 15 June 8pm BST
GROUP C –Serbia vs England, 16 June 8pm BST
GROUP D – Austria v France, 17 June 8pm BST
GROUP E – Belgium vs Slovakia, 17 June 5pm BST
GROUP F – Portugal vs Czechia, 18 June 8pm BST
When is the England squad announced?
Tonight’s game is the first of two warm-up friendlies that England are playing ahead of the final 26-man squad for the tournament being announced.
England will play Iceland at Wembley on 7 June, and the following day, Southgate will name his official squad for the European Championship in Germany.
Below is everything you need to know about the squad announcement.
When will England’s final Euro 2024 squad be announced?
England will announce a 26-player squad for the European Championship in Germany this summer
England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who is almost on the plane?
A handful of players have all but secured their places in the side, with factors including impressive Premier League performances or a lack of competition in the side helping their chances.
Aaron Ramsdale
The goalkeeper lost his battle for a starting place at Arsenal with David Raya, but even so, he is likely to go to the Euros as Pickford’s deputy.
Kieran Trippier
One of Southgate’s favourites, Trippier is likely to be part of the squad for his experience, versatility and his set-piece delivery. His form for Newcastle this season has not been to his typical high standards and he had battled injury over the past two months, but he can cover both right-back and left-back.
Conor Gallagher
Gallagher seems to have done enough to usurp more well-established internationals and regular starts for Chelsea this season have increased his chances of being selected for the Euros in a position where England lack depth.
Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo has had an impressive breakthrough year at Manchester United after graduating from the club’s academy, and the teenager reproduced that form in his first senior start for England against Belgium. Given the lack of midfield options, Mainoo may well have played himself into the Euros squad – and perhaps even the starting XI.
James Maddison
The midfielder struggled with an injury at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which prevented him from making an appearance, but he’s done enough for Tottenham this season to earn another squad place at the Euros. Maddison will provide an alternative option as an attacking midfielder, though his minutes may be limited.
Cole Palmer
Chelsea’s talisman won the Premier League’s young player of the year award after scoring 26 goals and racking up 15 assists in all competitions. Palmer has two England caps, although a minor injury scuppered his chances of showing what he can do during March’s internationals.
Ollie Watkins
Watkins has been sensational since Unai Emery took over as Aston Villa manager last year, and the striker makes a strong case for the role of Kane’s deputy at the Euros after finishing the Premier League season with the most assists (13) and joint-fourth most goals (19).
England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane and who will miss out?
A closer look at which England players are heading to Germany for Euro 2024 and who might miss out on the final squad
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments