- England suffered defeat against Iceland at Wembley in their final warm-up for Euro 2024
- Gareth Southgate admitted he understood the negative reaction after the match
- Click here Follow Mail Sport’s Euro 2024 WhatsApp channel for the latest news and updates from Germany
England were booed in their farewell to Euro 2024 as Iceland left Wembley with a shock victory that gave Gareth Southgate’s team a reality check.
And in more worrying news for the England manager, he was handed a worrying injury after John Stones suffered a knock to his ankle in the opening minutes, just nine days before the tournament’s opener against Serbia.
In their final warm-up match before the European Championship, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson led Iceland to a shock victory, a result that means England head into the Euros on a run of just one win in five matches.
Of the defeat and the fans’ reaction, Southgate said: “I completely understand (the booing). We didn’t play well enough to keep them excited during the game.
“We had very, very good opportunities that normally would have been taken and that could have given a different character to the game and of course would have affected the opponent’s confidence.
Gareth Southgate admitted he understood the crowd’s negative reaction when England were beaten by Iceland in their final Euro 2024 warm-up match on Friday night.
Jon Thorsteinsson’s first-half goal secured Iceland’s second victory over the Three Lions
England were greeted with boos from the Wembley crowd after a frustrating performance.
But that would have masked some flaws that were evident tonight. From my point of view, I have learned a lot from the game.
“This makes us think that any kind of complacency that talent is going to give us this trophy and that we just have to enter… football is not like that.” You have to get every aspect of the game right to win any match at this level and we were a long way off tonight and Iceland deserved their victory.
“But I have no qualms about the fans’ reaction. Having the fans here with you obviously makes a big difference, but you have to give them enough action in goal, you have to play well enough, press and win the ball with intensity to keep them with you throughout the game.
“It’s not the night we wanted, the performance was not at the level it needed.
“It’s far from being an ideal night, I’m not going to hide the disappointment, but we have to stay calm because we know what needs to be corrected.”
Southgate provided a promising update on John Stones, who was replaced at half-time.
Stones received extended treatment on the pitch and again at half-time in the Wembley tunnel. He left the stadium with a strap on his right ankle.
“John, we decided at half-time that there was no point in taking risks because obviously we are very close to the tournament and he is a very important player for us. We think he is probably fine.