England’s grand send-off for the European Championship ended in disappointment as they were defeated 1-0 by Iceland, the same team that knocked them out of the Euros in 2016. The defeat was met with boos from the crowd at Wembley and criticism from BBC pundits.
Former England defender Matt Upson described the performance as “dismal” and “boring to watch,” highlighting a lack of width, directness, aggression, and physicality in England’s play. Dion Dublin, a former England striker, echoed these concerns, stating that no player had a good game and there were no successful partnerships on the field. He credited Iceland for their dynamic and fit performance, stating that they deserved the win.
England manager Gareth Southgate admitted that the performance was not good enough but saw it as a learning opportunity for the team. He acknowledged that there were reasons for the disjointed display, including not fielding the full side and players having one eye on the upcoming challenges of the Euros. Despite the defeat, Southgate remains confident in the team’s ability to improve before their opening group game against Serbia.
Declan Rice, an England midfielder, expressed frustration over the loss but also highlighted the positive performances and learning opportunities from the match. He emphasized the need for mental focus against teams that sit back and expressed a desire for a more compact defensive shape.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney believes that England can still win Euro 2024 despite the defeat against Iceland. He praised the squad’s talent and firepower but expressed concern about the strength of the backline. Joe Cole, a former England midfielder, urged fans to remain optimistic and reminded them that the tournament starts when the team gets on the plane.
Overall, while the defeat against Iceland was disappointing, there are areas for improvement and learning for the England team. The players and coaching staff are confident that they can make necessary adjustments before the Euros and still have a strong chance of success.