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
62 mins: Iceland continue to close England down well and keep it tight in the box. England are preparing a quadruple change.
England 0-1 Iceland
60 mins: Too many bodies in the box as Rice feeds it through to Foden. No way through yet for England.
England 0-1 Iceland
59 mins: Gordon cuts back outside and swings a cross in, but it’s too deep and goes out for a goal kick. Looks like Southgate is preparing some sibs.
England 0-1 Iceland
57 mins: Too easy for Iceland to create an opportunity there, as they knock it down from the long ball and Gudjohnsen hits a half-volley straight at Ramsdale.
England 0-1 Iceland
55 mins: The commentary team are coming back to that early challenge on John Stones, when his ankle got tangled under a body in the tackle, and asking whether his substitution was enforced or precautionary.
No official word so far.
England 0-1 Iceland
53 mins: CLOSE! How are England not level?
Rice slips a through ball into the middle of the box and it fools the Iceland defenders before running to Cole Palmer. He’s one-on-one with the ‘keeper and he drags it past him, but he chooses not to shoot and eventually his cross goes out for a corner.
England 0-1 Iceland
50 mins: Iceland win it back on the edge of their own area, and Gudmundsson tries to release Gudjohnsen early, but Konsa cuts it out.
Right after, Kane plays a brilliant ball with the outside of his foot to Palmer, who’d made the diagonal run, and he brings it down before unleashing a shot into the side-netting.
England 0-1 Iceland
48 mins: CLOSE! Lovely combination from England as Mainoo slips it through to Foden, who feeds it on to Gordon. The Newcastle winger cuts it back to Foden near the edge of the area, and his low shot goes narrowly wide of the far post.
Much better from the home side.
England 0-1 Iceland
46 mins: An early chance for England as Gordon receives the pass on the left and fizzes a cross towards Kane, who gets something on it but can’t direct it goalwards.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments