England booed on Euro 2024 send-off as confidence shattered by Iceland loss

England went from a send-off to booed-off – on a night to forget for Gareth Southgate.

This meltdown against Iceland wasn’t on a par with the one the Three Lions suffered in Nice at Euro 2016. That defeat cost Roy Hodgson his job. While this one cost Southgate nothing more than some lost pride and respect. Not to mention the confidence of an entire nation heading into Euro 2024 in Germany.

Because if England can’t score a goal against – or beat – a team ranked 72 in the world, what hope is there of them taking down the best in Europe? If England were luring those awaiting them this summer into a false sense of security, they did a fantastic job.

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Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s first half goal was enough to seal a famous win for a country more famous for volcanos than its football. And the result must have caused quite an explosion in Southgate’s head.

With the first auditions over, this was supposed to be about those who got through proving worthy of a role on the biggest stage of all. But Southgate’s starting line-up to face Iceland resembled close to the one he’s expected to pick for the opening Group C game against Serbia.

Just Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford appeared to be missing. But it was still a chance for the likes of Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon and Marc Guehi to give Southgate a nudge ahead of when the serious stuff begins.

This was also about coming through a meaningless game unscathed. But John Stones gave Southgate a real scare inside the opening minute when he got his ankle trapped in an awkward position in a tackle.

He went down with a worried look on his face, but recovered enough to continue, although was taken off at half time. As expected, England dominated the start to pin Iceland deep inside their own half.

Palmer was given license to roam on the right and did just that, while Phil Foden tried to pull the strings from the No.10 role. But on 12 minutes the script was ripped in two when Iceland took the lead with their first attack of the game.

There seemed no danger when Thorsteinsson took the ball out on the left, but in a flash he cut inside Stones before drilling a shot through the defender’s legs which Aaron Ramsdale should have saved.

England tried to respond when Gordon charged onto Harry Kane’s pass and looked to emulate Thorsteinsson, but his effort was closer to the corner flag than the top corner.

Palmer then missed a golden chance to equalise when Hakon Rafin Valdimarsson’s clearance went straight to him inside the Iceland box, but somehow Daniel Gretarsson managed to deflect the shot wide.

Then came a collectors item when Palmer put a chance on a plate for Kane, but he missed the target from six yards out. This was turning into Southgate’s worst nightmare.

And it took a great block from Guehi to stop Arnor Traustason from doubling Iceland’s lead on the stroke of half time. Foden came within a whisker of an equaliser, before Palmer rounded the keeper but found himself with too tight an angle.

But Iceland created another wonderful chance on 63 minutes when Hakon Haraldsson beat the off-side trap and squared for Thorsteinsson, who slipped at the crucial moment with the goal at his mercy.

Southgate had seen enough and made four changes. But it made little difference. England should be going to Germany with the wind in their sails. Instead, they will board the plane in Birmingham on Monday wiping the custard pies off their embarrassed faces.