England boss Gareth Southgate accused his players of failing to show enough character as they slumped to a 1-0 loss to Iceland at Wembley.
The home side’s last match before Euro 2024 ended in boos at the final whistle after Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s goal was enough to give Iceland a shock win.
“We learned a lot and we know the performance wasn’t good enough,” Southgate told Channel 4.
Not our night, but we appreciated your support at Wembley Stadium. Thank you 👏 pic.twitter.com/5U8yoAFFMh
— England (@England) June 7, 2024
“Equally we needed the game; there’s a lot of players that we’re managing their minutes and it was obviously a disjointed and disappointing performance and we didn’t show enough character.
“But actually I think it’s a really good focus for us ahead of the tournament. Everybody’s saying we’re going to go there and walk through and have no problems, and the reality of international football isn’t that.
“We’ve got to be far better without the ball than we were today, we’ve got to show more composure with the ball.
England midfielder Declan Rice reacts after the defeat to Iceland at Wembley
“Across the two games we haven’t had our full side out at any point so it’s been a strange preparation.
“It’s not perfect but I’ve been involved in a lot of these last matches going into a tournament as a player as well and inevitably players have one eye on what’s coming a little bit in terms of the early challenges.
“No excuses on the result, we have to be better than that, but I think there are a lot of things we can put right pretty quickly.”
Southgate, who said he expects defender John Stones to be “OK” after he was replaced at half-time with an ankle injury, insists his side will be ready for the start of tournament action in Germany in nine days’ time.
Southgate expects John Stones, on the ground, to recover from his ankle injury
“We’ll be ready,” he added. “I said to the players at the beginning of this 45-odd days we’re going to be together that not every day is going to go as we want it.
“Tonight was one of those but we have to stay very calm. I’ve explained what needs to be better, but not everything will be wrong.
“We had enough chances to win the game, but we conceded too many chances as well.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Don't give up on the Premier League Dungeon Bro, Darwin Arsenal transfer market These are the same fans who say Auckland City didn't deserve to be in the Club World Cup.Brazilian teams at the Club World Cup: 4/4 through to the round of 16Argentinian teams at the Club World Cup: 0/2 through to the round of 16 lol This is what referees have to watch for 90 minutes....

Barcelona attacking midfielder Pablo Torre is closing in on a transfer to Mallorca after agreeing terms with the LaLiga club, a source has confirmed to ESPN.Mallorca and Torre's entourage held a meeting on Thursday, in which an agreement was reached with the player, who is attracted by Mallorca's project, a source said.The news was first reported by Marca.In the coming days, Mallorca will contact ...

Arsenal are in talks to sign Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, sources have told ESPN.Mosquera, 20, has made 73 LaLiga appearances in the last two seasons and sources said Arsenal are well positioned to beat off competition to the defender, who is a Spain youth international but also eligible for Colombia.RB Leipzig are also interested and Valencia have tried to renew Mosquera's contract, b...

Gyokeres makes transfer U-turn amid Man Utd and Arsenal interestViktor Gyokeres has made a transfer U-turn as he aims to force a move to Manchester United or Arsenal this summer.It had originally been assumed that Gyokeres would favour a move to Arsenal of the two English clubs, with Champions League football on offer at the Emirates. However the Gunners' continued pursuit of Benjamin Sesko from R...

Real Betis interest grows in Barrenechea’s: We have to decide if Unai wants to keep him...Aston Villa midfielder Barrenechea is attracting attention this summer as manager Unai Emery makes a decision regarding his future.Barrenechea continues to attract attention after impressing on loan at Valencia since August, namely from Real Betis. Midfield maestro, Johnny Cardoso, who seems destined fo...

Milos Kerkez opens up on Liverpool move: I think it should be every kid's dreamLiverpool signing Milos Kerkez has opened up on his move to the club this summer and why he chose the Reds over every other side.Liverpool completed the signing of Kerkez from the Cherries in a deal worth 340M as manager Arne Slot build a team fit to challenge for the Premier League title once again. The Hungary interna...

Trafford has "fully agreed personal terms with Newcastle" ahead of summer moveNewcastle United are closing in Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford who has agreed personal terms with the club.Burnley reportedly value Trafford at around 340million, which would make the 22-year-old the fifth most expensive goalkeeper of all time as the Magpies chase down their first signing of the summer transfer window...

Vivianne Miedema scored her 98th and 99th international goalsFinland Women lost their five-match unbeaten run on the eve of the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship thanks to a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands in a warm-up friendly before the tournament.The homes side's opening goal in Leeuwarden was a gift from the Finnish defence - in the 11th minute, Oona Siren gave the ball away cheaply inside...

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli is challenged by Brentford's Danish midfielder Christian NorgaardIn order not to get left behind in the transfer market this summer, Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal board appear to be making various moves which could have a significant and positive impact for them in 2025/26.To date, since the Spaniard took over in the Emirates Stadium dugout, the Gunners have always bee...

Al Ain's Laba Kodjo Fodoh (centre) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's first goalAl Ain ended their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Wydad at Audi Field in Washington in just the third-ever meeting between a team from Morocco and one from the Middle East.Both teams knew their fate prior to kick-off - even a win would not be enough to see them progres...



- 1 Seattle Sounders vs PSG Prediction 24 June 2025
- 2 Man United close in on Bryan Mbeumo
- 3 Man Utd close in on Bryan Mbeumo! Red Devils agree £60m+ fee with Brentford as Premier League rivals iron out final transfer details
- 4 Salzburg vs Real Madrid Prediction 27 June 2025
- 5 Real Madrid reveal target as Zubimendi joins Arsenal
- 6 Liverpool cult hero waves goodbye as transfer is confirmed: It’s been an absolute honour
- 7 Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is back ON! La Liga champions ready to sanction loan deal for Man Utd outcast amid Nico Williams pursuit
- 8 Barcelona announce Garrido departure
- 9 Liverpool spring a surprise by appointing ex-international manager - who coached at Euros AND World Cup - as new Under-21s boss
- 10 ‘We trust him, but we’re seeking another striker’ - AC Milan director says club wants competition for Mexico's Santiago Giménez