England had a poor dress rehearsal for the Euro. The team of coach Gareth Southgate was surprisingly defeated by Iceland.
Within twelve minutes, Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson, a 25-year-old winger from OH Leuven, found the net for Iceland, who are not participating in the European Championship in Germany. This early setback set the tone for a difficult match for the English side.
Midway through the match, the English also saw John Stones withdraw. The Manchester City defender was troubled by his ankle, and the medical staff did not want to take any risks, Southgate would say afterward. Stones' injury adds to Southgate's concerns, as he is a key player in England's defensive lineup.
The match highlighted several issues for England. With only one shot on target in the entire match, Southgate has plenty to think about. The team's lack of offensive creativity and inability to break down Iceland's defense will be major points of focus in the upcoming training sessions.
England will first play in the Euro on Sunday, June 16th, against Serbia. This match will be crucial for Southgate to assess his team's readiness and make any necessary adjustments. The pressure is on for England to perform well and make a strong start in the tournament.
Iceland, on the other hand, will travel to De Kuip on Monday to face the Netherlands. Although they are not participating in the European Championship, this match provides them with an opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition and continue building their team for future competitions.
Southgate will need to address the tactical and personnel issues exposed in the match against Iceland if England hopes to be competitive in the European Championship. The performance against Iceland serves as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for improvement in both attacking and defensive aspects of the game.
