England vs Iceland LIVE: Result and reaction as Jon Thorsteinsson goal gives visitors memorable win
Gareth Southgate’s men play their final game ahead of this summer’s tournament, which begins with a fixture against Serbia on 16 June
England were beaten 1-0 by Iceland in their final warm-up game ahead of Euro 2024. With Gareth Southgate naming his 26-man squad on Thursday there was a feeling of anticipation ahead of the clash at Wembley to see what the Three Lions’ younger players could produce.
The answer wasn’t much. Cole Palmer, starting on the right side alongside Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon, was a livewire in the early stages but Iceland were the ones to open the scoring. A sharp move from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson in midfield saw the ball slipped through to Jon Thorsteinsson who cut inside and drilled a low shot through the legs of John Stones to beat second-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at the near post.
That goal shocked Wembley and England who looked to respond. Harry Kane fired over the bar, Phil Foden slotted an effort wide and Palmer messed up a one-on-one. There was a lack of ruthlessness and creativity in the final third.
Gareth Southgate’s men head to Germany on the back of a defeat which he’ll hope will spur them on to better things come the start of the tournament.
Relive the action below:
England 0-1 Iceland
79 mins: Toney heads over from Alexander-Arnold’s delivery.
Now Iceland are preparing some changes.
England 0-1 Iceland
77 mins: Iceland have had the better of the chances in the second half so far. Haraldsson is booked for dragging down Mainoo as England countered.
England 0-1 Iceland
76 mins: Cole Palmer comes off for Ebere Eze, though Guehi stays on for some reason.
England 0-1 Iceland
74 mins: Iceland have an easy route through in-behind the England defence again, this time with another simple ball over the top, and Alexander-Arnold does well to track back. From the corner, Ramsdale does well to tip a looping volley over the bar.
England 0-1 Iceland
71 mins: Guehi eventually gets back on his feet, and he’s okay to carry on for now.
England 0-1 Iceland
69 mins: Guehi is down briefly as he takes the full force of a long-range shot in the head. He’ll likely have to come off, both for concussion and ‘squad precaution’ reasons.
England 0-1 Iceland
68 mins: Great play from Alexander-Arnold as Rice finds him down the right wing on the overlap, and the full-back cuts a precise ball back to Toney. The Brentford man hits it into the ground a bit and it goes wide.
England 0-1 Iceland
66 mins: Iceland win a corner and it’s a dangerous delivery which Ramsdale hesitates to collect, but he makes himself big on the line to save the header. Another Iceland change goes begging.
England 0-1 Iceland
64 mins: England make four subs. Walker, Trippier, Gordon and Kane come off for Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney.
Straight away, Toney has half a shout for a penalty, but it was hopeful as he went down under the challenge in the box.
England 0-1 Iceland
63 mins: CLOSE! England go with the high line on halfway and Iceland beat the offside trap, with Kyle Walker guilty of playing them onside.
They drive towards the box it’s squared to the goalscorer, Thorsteinsson, who stumbles as he hits it and scuffs the shot wide!
Iceland should be 2-0 up.
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