England humbled in a friendly match against Iceland

The game-winning goal came in the twelfth minute, when deft English defenders vanished and unoccupied space was formed. Although that can occur in international football, Southgate was more concerned about the fact that Iceland had other opportunities as well. In actuality, the opportunities persisted despite seven England substitutions and lineup modifications.  Even though this golden age of England has so far avoided most of the mistakes made by their predecessors, it has come perilously close to self-sabotage on the eve of Euro 2024.  

The lone goal of the game was an aberration: Stones and Ramsdale both fell far short of their mark when trying to block Thorsteinsson's shot, which proved to be the game-winning shot. Yet it was the shape of the team that was a bigger worry. Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo anchored midfield and that partnership will clearly need another look. Iceland passed relatively confidently from the back and in spite of one first-half foul-up in that regard their confidence grew.
It does not look like Mainoo will claim that place alongside Rice for the game in Gelsenkirchen next Sunday. The lead contender now is Trent Alexander-Arnold who was a much more natural fit against Bosnia on Monday. The other options are Conor Gallagher and Adam Wharton – the latter of whom is more accustomed to the role but would be a very inexperienced candidate for a game of this magnitude.
Southgate acknowledged that his team had difficulty playing without the ball. 

They looked strung out, and it invited some passing sequences that Iceland might not have expected were possible. It also meant that England were unable to grind away the resistance of Iceland, which is the normal way of things, when games like these can be won in the last 15 minutes.
Southgate would say later that he had to substitute the likes of Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon, arguably the brightest player on the night. Southgate said more than once that he is managing “physical issues” around the team. Evidently some players were deemed injury-risks and their minutes were capped accordingly.

Southgate, a master at putting out the fires when it comes to talk of impending catastrophe, will doubtless do the same again over the next few days. Yet even he could not deny this was a difficult night and a very awkward kind of result.
The traditional post-match, pre-tournament farewell to the fans was a sorry affair in a largely empty stadium. The mood in Wembley was gloomy even if it stopped short of the kind of derision that Southgate has attracted in his lowest moments. Of course, Harry Kane would have taken advantage of Cole Palmer's cross in the first half, and he would not have missed it on any other night. 

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