England: Dazzling Eberechi Eze gives Gareth Southgate pause as Euros squad is fine-tuned

International friendlies are typically stodgy, even with a major tournament looming, and the final scoreline masked a disjointed display from a much-changed England XI last night.

Gareth Southgate, though, is long enough in the tooth to know the drill, and the England manager will have taken the positives as his side scored three times in the second half to see off Bosnia and Herzegovina and kick-start their preparations for Euro 2024.

Conor Gallagher completed 90 minutes in the engine room; goalscorer Trent Alexander-Arnold was impressive in midfield and at full-back in the second half; Ezri Konsa staked his claim as England's utility defender; and 20-year-old substitute Adam Wharton was composed on debut.

Eberechi Eze, however, was the story of the match for an hour, at least until Cole Palmer's penalty broke the Bosnians' resistance and Southgate introduced a raft of substitutes, including captain Harry Kane.

Playing from the left of the front four, Eze was the life and soul of a drab first half, repeatedly taking on his man — or men — in a continuation of his outstanding club form for Crystal Palace since the turn of the year.

His quick feet, change of direction and willingness to carry the ball into tight areas were particularly eye-catching, and as half-time loomed with the game still goalless, the 25-year-old took the initiative, weaving past three Bosnians before being crudely taken out by a fourth.

"Clearly, I would imagine Eberechi has caught the eye with the way he started the game, the way he glides past people and the power he shows," Southgate said.

Eze finished the season with remarkable numbers for Palace — nine goals and three assists in their final 12 games — and his inclusion in Southgate's provisional 33-man training squad was no surprise.

His performance on his first England start and third appearance overall suggests he is unfazed by the pressure of stepping up to this level.

England manager Gareth Southgate

Southgate will probably cut one of his floaty No10s when he submits a final 26-man squad for the tournament on Saturday, and Eze's display leaves Jack Grealish and James Maddison sweating on their places.

Jude Bellingham, who is set to be the last player to join up with the squad after helping Real Madrid to win another European Cup at the weekend, is a shoo-in, while Phil Foden is likely to start from the left but can also play centrally.

With Palmer expected to make the cut after his outstanding season for Chelsea, there will likely only be space for two of Eze, Grealish or Maddison, and the Palace forward, though the least experienced, is plainly the form player.

After being ignored when Manchester City needed a goal in their FA Cup Final defeat, Grealish offered a timely reminder of his own quality, replacing Eze for the final half-hour and creating Alexander-Arnold's superb finish with a lovely switch of play.

Grealish and Maddison were both involved in the third goal, scored by Kane, who bundled home from close-range, having earlier asked Southgate if he could come on to take the penalty, won by Konsa, following a VAR review.

"It's a 33 who are desperate to be involved," Southgate said, when asked about Grealish. "We know the qualities he has and what he's capable of doing. That's not in any question. He's a player we love having with the group and a great character to work with."

Southgate could yet take all three of Eze, Grealish and Maddison, particularly if Anthony Gordon continues to struggle for fitness, but the Newcastle winger and Jarrod Bowen, who completed 90 minutes on the right wing, offer more direct options.

If there was a concern for Southgate, it was in a familiar area of the pitch, as Eze's Palace team-mate Marc Guehi looked jittery at centre-half.

In the past 18 months, Guehi has established himself as first change when either Harry Maguire or John Stones is sidelined, but he was loose in possession and booked for a clumsy challenge. Konsa, who played in every position across the back four last night, may have jumped ahead of him in the pecking order.

Next up for England is Iceland on Friday and, having run the rule over his squad last night, Southgate is likely to prioritise to fine-tuning his preferred starting XI at Wembley.