Sometimes when you write a report on England games you have to temper your utter disappointment with an objectional look at the wider issue, and this defeat against Iceland was one such game. With the Euros just around the corner there was definitely an element of caution from the players, not wanting to risk injury or anything else before leaving for Germany. However, the crowd were wanting a good Wembley send-off and unfortunately that did not happen.

England began the match well, moving the ball quickly and creating several good attacks. A lovely pass from Phil Foden picked out Kieran Trippier marauding down the left. Trippier lost control though and the chance was gone. Then Harry Kane won a corner but goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, looking safe and secure all game, collected Foden's cross quite comfortably. On 11 minutes Anthony Gordon, one of England's few successes on the night, made a fine run down the left showing his pace and leaving a defender for dead. Alas, his final cross was cleared away and again the chance was squandered.

Then, a minute later, the unthinkable happened. Kyle Walker was caught upfield and Kolbeinn Finnsson threaded a good pass down the left into the space for Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson to run onto. John Stones came across to cover but the striker cut inside before firing in a fine low shot and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was beaten at his near post. That wasn't in the script, but it was a well taken goal with England's defence found wanting.

England quickly responded with Gordon trying to replicate the goal at the other end, cutting inside from the left but this time shooting well wide of the goal. The play was end to end at this time and when Declan Rice shut down the goalkeeper, the latter's clearance went straight to Cole Palmer. It looked odds on an equaliser, but Palmer's shot was blocked and deflected for a corner with the keeper beaten. There was a look of determination from England and when Kobbie Mainoo found Foden another chance went begging as Foden's shot was weak and easily saved. Certainly it was a game of fast open football, from both teams, too open from an England perspective. And every time England threatened, the final pass was just not good enough and Iceland were let off the hook several times. That was especially so on 28 minutes.

Palmer received the ball on the right and sent over a perfect cross for Kane to run onto. Now, you would have put your house on Kane putting that one away, but instead he guided the ball over the bar, much to everyone's amazement. The crowd were stunned by that miss and although the pressure on the Iceland defence was constant, England had still not seriously tested goalkeeper Valdimarsson. In fact, the nearest we had to another goal came from Iceland who so nearly made it 2-0. How Arnor Ingvi Traustason put a close range shot wide was anyone's guess. The half ended with Iceland doggedly holding their lead and they were impressive at both ends of the field.

England started the second-half on the front foot and in the first ten minutes after the restart Gordon set up Foden who shot just the wrong side of the far post. Then Palmer shot into the side-netting from a tight angle before the same player had another golden chance. Rice, who played well, put a fine pass through to Palmer who had just the goalkeeper to beat, but he took an extra touch and the ball was scrambled clear by backtracking defenders, Shades of the infamous World Cup qualifier against Poland in October 1973, when we did everything but score started to loom in my mind. The difference there though was that the Polish goalkeeper, Jan Tomashevski, worked overtime making save after save, This time though, Valdimarsson never had to make a save apart from a couple of punches clear from crosses. It was Iceland making the best chances and after Gareth Southgate made his usual raft of substitutions, what little rhythm England had went out of the window. Sverrir Ingi Ingason so nearly settled the match as he attacked a cross from the left, when unmarked, and only a fine block by Ramsdale kept England in the game.

Throughout this half the quality of the final passes by England was even worse than the first period. Trent Alexander-Arnold put in a number of crosses after he came on, one of which was just deflected wide of the far post, and a late effort by Mainoo saw a shot fly high over the bar. And that was it and it has to be said that Iceland thoroughly deserved their win. Their players were resolute at the back, quick on the break, took one of their chances to score and have the longest names in International football. England, meanwhile need to regroup quickly, and Southgate needs to organise a much better balanced side, be careful with substitutions and bring the very best out of this talented squad when the important stuff starts in a week's time.

For my part I look back on all the England sides of the past and I wonder what they must think when they find we have lost at home to football minnows Iceland? Still, bring on Aldi and Lidl I say!!
  

Source Notes