Misfiring England tumble to Iceland defeat in setback to Euros preparations

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scored the only goal of the game as Iceland consigned England to a 1-0 defeat in their final warm-up game ahead of Euro 2024.

The hosts started brightly at Wembley but were stunned in the 12th minute when Thorsteinsson cut in and fired past Aaron Ramsdale after being found with a simple throughball.

Harry Kane had England’s best chance of the game in the first half but sent his close-range effort wide after being picked out by Cole Palmer.

Anthony Gordon looked lively until he was replaced just after the hour-mark but there will be few positives to take for Gareth Southgate, who also faces a nervous wait to find out the extent of the early knock suffered by John Stones.

In truth, Hakon Valdimarsson had little to do in the Iceland goal other than remain alert at set-pieces.

England enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but failed to do enough with it and were lucky not to fall 2-0 behind when the visitors broke in the 63rd-minute.

Thorsteinsson was found in the box with just the goalkeeper to beat and the goal at his mercy but slipped when planting his foot in preparation to shoot.

The Three Lions probed all the way to the final whistle, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ivan Toney having an impact off the bench, but Iceland held their shape brilliantly to see out the victory.

Southgate will hope this is just a blip but other teams will have been watching.

While the result is not the be-all and end-all, the manner of the defeat will be a concern for Southgate. The England manager certainly looked anxious on the touchline in the closing stages as his side tried to find an equaliser.

For all the quality in attack, clear-cut chances were few and far between. Kane missed one in the first half, which can happen, but had they created more, someone would have surely found the net.

At the other end of the pitch, Iceland’s goal came from nothing. One ball through the middle caught the defence napping, while Ramsdale could have stopped what was a fairly regulation effort.

With the games to come in the group stages against teams that are likely to sit in, as Iceland did, this shock loss might actually ensure complacency doesn’t creep in.

This was a close call between Gordon and Iceland’s Thorsteinsson but the Englishman gets the nod.

Gordon’s output, particularly in the first half, was impressive. He showed his pace to breeze past an Iceland defender up the left flank, while his link-up play with Foden, Palmer, Rice and Mainoo was good.

He was a constant outlet for England and played some nice balls into the box, most notably for Foden shortly after the break. He could well have played his way into the starting XI.

ENGLAND: Ramsdale (5), Walker (6), Trippier (6), Rice (6), Stones (5), Guehi (6), Palmer (7), Mainoo (7), Kane (5), Foden (7), Gordon (8).

SUBS: Gomez (5), Henderson (n/a), Quansah (n/a), Konsa (5), Gallagher (n/a), Toney (5), Watkins (n/a), Alexander-Arnold (6), Bowen (n/a), Eze (n/a), Pickford (n/a), Wharton (n/a), Trafford (n/a), Saka (5).

ICELAND: Valdimarsson (7), Anderson (6), Ingason (6), Gretarsson (6), Finnsson (7), Thorsteinsson (8), Gudmundsson (7), Traustason (6), Haraldsson (6), Gudjohnsen (7), Bjarkason (6).

SUBS: Olafsson (n/a), Gunnarsson (n/a), Sampsted (n/a), Thorarinsson (n/a), Bjarnason (n/a), Sigurdsson (5), Tomasson (n/a), Thordarson (4), Fridriksson (5), Johannesson (5), Magnusson (n/a), Hylnsson (n/a).

12′ GOAL! THORSTEINSSON PUTS ICELAND AHEAD: Wow! Having barely enjoyed any possession, Iceland are ahead. Thorsteinsson cuts in from the right and fires a low shot in at the near post that Ramsdale really should save but it beats the Arsenal man and Wembley is stunned.

28′ WHAT A CHANCE: Palmer picks out Kane with a pinpoint cross. He’s onside with just the keeper to beat from seven yards out but he sends it over the bar. That was a huge chance.

49′ JUST WIDE: The game has quickly settled back into a familiar rhythm, with England dominating the ball against a compact and deep-sitting Iceland. Gordon is found on the left wing and cuts it back for Foden, who flashes a shot just wide of the far post. That was nice.

53′ CHANCE: A ball by Rice goes past Kane and finds Palmer, who is clean through. You fancy him to score but he is pushed out wide by Valdimarsson and can’t find the target from there. Another chance goes begging.

57′ SAVE: This time Iceland have a chance. A long ball is chested down by Thorsteinsson into the path of Gudjohnsen, who fizzes a volley on the England goal but it’s right at Ramsdale. That was far too easy.

63′ HUGE LET-OFF FOR ENGLAND: England build again on the right but they are really struggling to punch a hole in Iceland’s defensive structure. The visitors suddenly break and it’s two on one. Thorsteinsson is found in the middle with just Ramsdale to beat but he slips and the chance is gone. What a let-off for England.

90+5′ SO CLOSE: England continue to play the ball about outside the Iceland area before Alexander-Arnold picks it up on the left. The Liverpool man fires it hopefully across the box and it suddenly looks like it might sneak in at the far post only for it to drift agonisingly wide.

• England have lost their final match before a major tournament for the first time since 1968.
• England have only kept two clean sheets in their last seven games.