England will arrive at Euro 2024 on the back of an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley
Michael Dominski
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Result: England 0-1 Iceland
What's next?
Not long to wait now until Euro 2024 gets under way – here are the key dates:
- Monday, June 10: England squad fly to Germany
- Sunday, June 16: Serbia vs England (group stage)
- Thursday, June 20: Denmark vs England (group stage)
- Tuesday, June 25: England vs Slovenia (group stage)
- Saturday, June 29 - Tuesday, July 2: Euro 2024 Round of 16
- Friday, July 5 & Saturday, July 6: Euro 2024 Quarter-finals
- Tuesday July 9 & Wednesday, July 10: Euro 2024 Semi-finals
- Sunday, July 14: Euro 2024 final
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Southgate: Stones is 'probably OK'
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Southgate also touched on the fitness of John Stones, who was taken off at half-time after an opponent fell on the back of his ankle in the opening minute: "We think he is probably OK. We didn't want to take the chance."
Southgate: It's not going to be as easy as people say
More from Southgate speaking after the match: "I've been involved in a lot of last matches leading into a tournament. Inevitably players have one eye on what's coming in terms of early challenges. No excuses on the result but there are a lot of things we can put right quickly.
"Everyone is saying we’re going to go there and walk through and have no problems. But the reality of international football isn’t that. We’ve got to be far better without the ball than we were today, and then we’ve got to show more composure than we’ve shown with the ball."
Southgate focusses on positives
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Gareth Southgate spoke about taking some positives from the match despite the result: "We learned a lot. We know the performance wasn’t good enough. Equally, I think we needed the game. So many of the players needed the game. There are a lot of players whose minutes we are managing, who have had a break since the end of the Premier League, where you are trying to refresh them but they are out of the rhythm of playing.
"It was obviously a disjointed and disappointing performance and we didn't show enough character. But actually, I think it’s a really good focus for us ahead of the tournament. I think we've got to be better without the ball. I think that there were a lot of reasons for that and across the two games we probably haven't had our full side out across any two games. We've been able to look at people, we've been able to learn about the balance of the team."
Not the send-off England wanted
This is the first time since 1968 that England have lost their final match before a major international tournament.
In 1968, they lost 1-0 against Germany before heading to the Euros, in which they took third place.
Rice: 'There's work to be done'
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Declan Rice also spoke to Channel 4 after the match: "When we have that much of the ball, we have a couple of clear-cut chances and get beat 1-0 at home just before a Euros is not ideal. But there were a lot of positive performances. In the end it becomes a frustration game, you're chasing your tail a little bit and get caught on the counter-attack. It's not ideal we lost but there's a lot of learning curves you can build on as a team.
"There's no doubt about our quality on the ball as a collective. Maybe against the teams that sit in it's about being a bit mentally switched on. I felt at times we were a little stretched, not as compact as we usually are. Inside I'm hurting and between now and the next game there's work to be done.
"I'm sure we're going to be more than ready for Serbia."
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Gordon looks at the 'bigger picture'
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Anthony Gordon spoke to Channel 4 after England's loss: "It didn't go the way we wanted but it's the bigger picture. It's great practice for us, that's probably how teams are going to play against us, so the more we play against teams like that and learn to break them down the better.
"We had a bit of a lack of quality around the final third."
On his chances of starting England's first game: "I hope so. That's the first time I've kicked a ball really for four weeks so I just wanted to run to go into the tournament feeling fit and feeling fresh."
Reader reaction: 'Southgate out'
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Let's just say that subscribers to The Athletic who support England aren't taking this result well. Here's a sampling of their thoughts, with much of their ire directed towards Gareth Southgate...
Chris C: Southgate out. Take your jumper and your M&S ads with you. I don’t even care that we lost - I just don’t care if we’re playing anymore. IT’S. SO. BORING. If you can’t get excited to watch your country, what’s the point?
Samuel E: He’s caved in to the demands of a bunch of internet simpletons. We’re now far too open at the back, and the attack is made up of a load of randoms who’ve never played with each other. I liked Old Southgate that got us deep in tournaments. Everyone else has got what they wished for. Good work
David B: Please can Gareth get the Man U job. He might actually be able to relegate them because he’s absolutely CLUELESS! If we somehow manage to win the Euros it will be in spite of him.
The Athletic UK Staff
Instant reaction to England's loss
So much for England’s celebratory send off for Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s side conceded the first goal at the national stadium — yet again — and could only huff and puff in search of an equaliser as Iceland, who failed to qualify for this month’s tournament, secured an historic first win at Wembley. This was a downbeat way to finish preparations before the team depart for Germany.
Rob Tanner and Liam Tharme were at Wembley to break down some of the main talking points from the game, follow the link below to check out their breakdown.
England didn't create enough chances
England outshot Iceland 13 to eight tonight, but Iceland recorded four shots on goal to just one for the hosts.
598 England passes, though, for just the one shot on target. Against Iceland. At home.
Great result for Iceland
A famous result for Iceland as they win at Wembley for the first time. As the full-time whistle blew, the cameras showed a young Iceland fan holding up the 1-0 scoreline with his fingers while grinning wide from ear to ear.
The shame for them, of course, is that they failed to qualify for Euro 2024, falling at the final play-off stage.
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England head to Germany with more questions than answers
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England can’t have too many complaints tonight. Defensively they have been caught out far too often and while they have had a couple of great chances they should have taken in each half, they haven’t created enough opportunities. The creativity around the box has been lacking tonight.
Worryingly, it has been a disjointed display with only a week to put the issues right. Southgate has plenty to ponder. With the upheaval of the squad announcement yesterday, injuries and the displays in the two warm-up games, England head to Germany with issues to resolve.
FT: England 0-1 Iceland
Boos ring around Wembley as the final whistle blows. Not the result Gareth Southgate and England wanted on the eve of Euro 2024!
Alexander-Arnold creates something from nothing
90+4' England 0-1 Iceland
Alexander-Arnold nearly scores from nothing, firing a shot from the wing that takes a slight deflection and nearly finds the inside of the far post.
Alternatively, if any of his team-mates had been crashing the back post at that moment, they would have had a simple tap-in for an equaliser.
FIVE minutes added on
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90+1' England 0-1 Iceland
Five minutes for England to prevent a morale-sapping result on the eve of Euro 2024.
Saka goes for goal
90' England 0-1 Iceland
Saka attempts to do it on his own. He cuts inside one defender from the right wing and unleashes a shot, but it's blocked by the second defender.
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England running out of time
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88' England 0-1 Iceland
Some England fans are beginning to leave Wembley, either to beat the traffic or to avoid seeing the end of a poor result...
Eze dangerous again
86' England 0-1 Iceland
Eze was a livewire in attack against Bosnia on Monday and is creating more danger again today. He combines well with Gomez before crossing for Alexander-Arnold at the far post, but Iceland's defence block his ensuing first-time cross.
Saka draws booking
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81' England 0-1 Iceland
Saka beats Finnsson down the right flank, forcing the defender to put in a sliding challenge that doesn't come close to the ball. Finnsson is booked, as Haraldsson was a few moments ago as well.
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