England vs Iceland LIVE!

England slumped to a 1-0 loss against Iceland in their last Euro 2024 warm-up match at Wembley on Friday, with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson's first-half goal giving the Scandinavian non-qualifiers a surprise but deserved victory.

Thorsteinsson scored in the 12th minute, finishing off a sharp break with a low shot through John Stones' legs to beat goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at his near post. The hosts spurned several opportunities to equalise, with captain Harry Kane missing a golden chance in the 28th minute when he shinned Cole Palmer's cross over from six yards out.

But Iceland finished the stronger side and were good value for the win. England, however, looked flat in their final game before the Euros in Germany, where they face Serbia in their opening Group C match in Gelsenkirchen next Sunday. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dan Kilpatrick and Dom Smith at Wembley Stadium.

England vs Iceland latest updates

• SAVE! Ramsdale denies Ingason at the back post

• CHANCE! Palmer wastes golden opportunity

• CHANCE! Kane misses sitter in search of equaliser

• GOAL! Thorsteinsson beats Ramsdale at near post

Full-time!

21:38 , Alex Young

96min: Well, that’s the worst possible final prep for England.

Fresh, and very much unwanted, concerns ahead of their flight to Germany.

21:37 , Alex Young

94min: So close! Alexander-Arnold denied at the death! His low shot deflected wide.

21:36 , Alex Young

93min: Iceland make a late substitution, running down the clock. Thorsteinsson is off, Frideksson is on.

21:34 , Alex Young

92min: Mainoo flashes a shot wide with the goal gaping, but the flag is up for Saka.

21:33 , Alex Young

90min: Saka gets on his right and then cuts inside to test the keeper, but his shot is blocked.

Five minutes added on.

21:31 , Alex Young

89min: Iceland are under no pressure at the moment. Toney and Eze are trying to make something happen, but it just ain’t happening (yet).

21:29 , Alex Young

86min: Plenty of supporters heading for the exit.

21:26 , Alex Young

84min: Mainoo lets fly from the corner of the area, after Toney’s attempted cross was cut out, but it’s well high and well wide.

A waste.

21:24 , Alex Young

82min: Another free kick from Alexander-Arnold, and this time it’s whipped into the six-yard box which the keeper does very well to punch clear.

21:22 , Alex Young

80min: It’s a floated delivery to Toney, who heads well over.

21:22 , Alex Young

79min: Mainoo dragged to the floor as England try to break. Haraldsson booked for his troubles, Alexander-Arnold on the free kick.

Dom Smith at Wembley

21:20 , Alex Young

It was concerning how many times Belgium and Brazil got in behind England in the March friendlies, and the same concern has been raised here against the side ranked 72nd in the world.

A cliché, but that generosity will be punished this summer.

21:19 , Alex Young

77min: Palmer is replaced be Eze.

21:18 , Alex Young

76min: My word, almost a remarkable second goal from Iceland on the volley, which Ramsdale does very well to push over. Nearly caught the keeper out.

21:17 , Alex Young

74min: Guehi is back on as England concede a corner.

21:14 , Alex Young

72min: Guehi is sat up going through concussion protocols.

21:13 , Alex Young

70min: Guehi is down after getting a ball right in the face. That should be his game done, you’d think. Quansah is warming up.

21:12 , Alex Young

69min: Alexander-Arnold does brilliantly to get to the byline to find Toney in the centre, but the pass is slightly behind the striker, who can only direct a shot over.

SAVE!

21:09 , Alex Young

67min: Superb stop from Ramsdale to deny Ingason at the back post. Making amends for his mistake in the first half.

21:08 , Alex Young

66min: Toney immediately has half a penalty shout, but it’s never a foul. It is a corner though... which Foden sends in but Iceland once again deal with it well.

21:07 , Alex Young

65min: Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Toney and Saka are on for Walker, Trippier, Kane and Gordon.

21:05 , Alex Young

63min: Four players coming on for England.

21:04 , Alex Young

62min: Gordon seems to be eternally in space on the left. Have liked the look of him tonight.

Kane almost turns the defender in the area, but this time he’s not given an inch.

21:02 , Alex Young

60min: Saka and Alexander-Arnold appear to be getting ready.

21:01 , Alex Young

59min: This is all rather predictable from England. Time for some fresh legs?

20:58 , Alex Young

55min: Palmer now tries to create a chance by weighting a pass into the area for Walker to scamper after, but Iceland mop up.

20:56 , Alex Young

53min: Oh, Palmer - you had to score! Beautifully slipped in by Rice after a Kane dummy, but he waits and waits to fire and eventually the keeper closes the gap.

20:53 , Alex Young

51min: Lovely flick from Palmer to release Palmer, who produces an even better touch to take it away from the Iceland defender before firing into the near side netting.

Dan Kilpatrick at Wembley

20:51 , Alex Young

Lovely, flowing attacking from England. OK, Foden puts it wide, but it all comes from a positive pass, a risk, from Mainoo.

That’s what England will need this summer: players who take calculated risks.

20:51 , Alex Young

49min: More of the same, with England pushing Iceland deeper and deeper.

Foden flashes a decent effort narrowly wide of the far post. Good chance.

Second half!

20:49 , Alex Young

46min: Back underway and Kane flicks half a chance at goal, which bounces harmlessly wide.

Dan Kilpatrick at Wembley

20:49 , Alex Young

You have to hope Stones being substituted is just a precaution.

The centre-half caught his ankle awkwardly in the first minute but did not appear in discomfort for the remainder of the half.

20:47 , Alex Young

Stones is off, with Konsa on for the second half.

20:46 , Alex Young

Here come the teams for the second half. Any changes, we think so.

20:46 , Alex Young

It’s fair to say, if it wasn’t clear already, that Jordan Pickford’s starting spot is safe.

20:43 , Alex Young

It's been a frustrating half, but the likes of Gordon, Palmer and Rice look likely to make something happen.Iceland have barely been out of their half.

Half-time!

20:32 , Alex Young

47min: A smattering of boos at the break!

20:31 , Alex Young

46min: The corner comes in and England deal with it. One minute added on.

20:31 , Alex Young

45min: Iceland win a corner as we enter stoppage time, Guehi flying in to deny the goalscorer at the edge of the area.

20:30 , Alex Young

44min: Rice with the inswinger again, and again the keeper gratefully collects.

20:30 , Alex Young

43min: Gordon, now on the left, shows a great touch to take on the Iceland right-back and wins another corner.

20:26 , Alex Young

40min: Gordon is back on the right and again makes the space to stand the ball up into the area, but his aim is off and cannot find Kane.

20:24 , Alex Young

38min: Twice Kane finds Walker with beautiful cross-field balls, twice Walker makes a mess of it.

20:23 , Alex Young

37min: England are doing a fine job pushing Iceland right back, but their opponents are doing an even better job of shutting off all avenues.

Dan Kilpatrick at Wembley

20:21 , Alex Young

Iceland are doing a decent job of spoiling the party so far, standing off England and letting them have the ball in non-threatening areas.

Southgate's side are having to be patient but Palmer's pick out of Kane just now shows they will make chances if they keep getting the ball to their forwards.

20:20 , Alex Young

34min: It’s a great delivery, right on top of the keeper, but it’s punched away and then hacked clear.

20:19 , Alex Young

33min: England win another corner. Rice on duty this time...

20:17 , Alex Young

31min: Walker’s long ball towards Gordon is a few inches overhit. The Newcastle man is seeing plenty of the ball tonight.

Dom Smith at Wembley

20:15 , Alex Young

Surprisingly to see Kane miss that, but he did rather snatch at it.

He’s onside, and what a fine pick-out that was from Palmer.

Sitter!

20:14 , Alex Young

28min: Everyone expected the net to bulge then!

Rice spots Palmer on the edge of the area, and the midfielder shows wonderful vision to spot Kane inside the area but the captain shanks a shot wide from 12 yards.

20:12 , Alex Young

27min: Plenty of possession for England but they just can’t get past Iceland’s six-man defence. Basically playing on the edge of their area.

20:11 , Alex Young

25min: Iceland's opener has affected the atmosphere at Wembley.Even the England band cannot be heard.

That’s like end of days stuff.

20:09 , Alex Young

23min: Rice pops the ball over the defence looking for Kane’s run, but it’s got a little too much on it so runs out of play.

Not quite clicking for England so far.

20:07 , Alex Young

21min: Foden is found by Mainoo darting into the area, but can only fire off a weak shot at goal.

Dan Kilpatrick at Wembley

20:06 , Alex Young

Iceland are a good passing team and the way they showed up the holes in England's midfield structure will give Southgate pause for thought.

England, though, look lively going forward and you imagine it won't be long before they find their way back into this game.

20:03 , Alex Young

18min: Foden again takes the corner, and again Iceland clear.

20:03 , Alex Young

17min: A mistake from the goalkeeper almost gifts Palmer an equaliser, but his shot is deflected behind.

20:02 , Alex Young

16min: This time Gordon gets to the byline to stand the ball up, but there is no white shirt in the centre to head home.

20:02 , Alex Young

15min: Gordon is busy down the left, looking to hit back immediately, but is twice crowded out by Icelandic defenders.

Dom Smith at Wembley

20:00 , Alex Young

Where was Kyle Walker? Stones sent by a drop-of-the-shoulder too easily. Worrying amount of space for Iceland to eat up in midfield.

Not a goal to concede that will fill England fans with any confidence at all.

GOAL!

19:59 , Alex Young

12min: Wembley stunned! Iceland lead through Thorsteinsson, who beats Ramsdale at the near post.

It’s out of nothing and the Arsenal keeper should not be beaten. It’s a howler.

Dom Smith at Wembley

19:56 , Alex Young

As he so often does for England — either in a back three or, as tonight, a back four — Kyle Walker is tucking in and allowing Anthony Gordon out wide to play more as a right wing-back than a right-winger.

It gives England extra width on the right.

19:55 , Alex Young

10min: England win their first corner, which Foden takes but his delivery is straight into the keeper’s arms.

19:54 , Alex Young

8min: England continue to prod and probe. Iceland not giving them an inch yet.

19:52 , Alex Young

6min: Walker gives Ramsdale a tricky back pass, that gets booted out for a throw. Iceland are unable to do anything with it.

19:51 , Alex Young

5min: Stones is fine. England, and the defender, continue to pass the ball around comfortably.

Dan Kilpatrick at Wembley

19:49 , Alex Young

Genuine heart in mouth moment afer barely 90 seconds here, as John Stones stays down when his ankle was caught in a clumsy challenge.

There aren't many players more important than the Manchester City centre-half to England's chances in Germany.

19:49 , Alex Young

4min: England bossing possession.

19:48 , Alex Young

2min: Stones is down after a clumsy tackle. He’ll be fine but that’s the last thing Southgate needs, another defender down.

Kick-off!

19:46 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go!

19:45 , Alex Young

Harry Kane had a much shorter trim for the tournament.

19:43 , Alex Young

The teams are out.

19:42 , Alex Young

Kick-off is just a few minutes away.

19:37 , Alex Young

Some record for Gareth Southgate.

His 100th game in charge could be a Euro 2024 semi-final. Let’s hope the 101st follows a few days later.

Gareth Southgate on Bukayo Saka

19:33 , Alex Young

"We should [see Saka play tonight]. He has been a little bit behind in terms of when we started training. But we would like to give him some minutes later in the game today."

19:26 , Alex Young

Wayne Rooney is a big fan of Anthony Gordon.

19:20 , Alex Young

Want to feel old? This was two decades ago.

Declan Rice: England 'have to play' Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield

19:15 , Alex Young

Declan Rice has backed Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold as a potential midfield partner at the Euros, saying England "have to play" the "special" Liverpool player.

He believes England cannot afford to leave a talent like Alexander-Arnold, who can also play right-back, on the sidelines at the European Championship.

"He’s special. We all know Trent’s skill set - his passing, the way he sees a pass, that right-sided [midfield] position suits him beautifully," Rice said.

"He can come in on to his favourite right side and see that pass like he does for Liverpool. It really does suit him, that role, but he went to right-back for the last 20 minutes [on Monday] and looked just as good there.

"He’s a player any country would appreciate. He’s a player we have to play, we have to get involved, and our attackers should be thriving playing off someone like Trent because his passing is off the scale."

Read more here!

19:11 , Alex Young

It's eight changes for England. Ramsdale starts but otherwise the defence will probably start against Serbia.

Mainoo partners Rice in midfield, while Foden and Gordon support Kane in attack.

19:00 , Alex Young

Wayne Rooney is part of the Channel 4 pundit team tonight.

Dan and Dom check in

18:57 , Alex Young

Our reporters with their thoughts on the line-up.

Team news in full

18:48 , Alex Young

Iceland XI: Valdimarsson; Anderson, Ingason, Gretarsson, Finnsson; Thorsteinsson, Gudmundsson, Traustason, Haraldsson; Gudjohnsen, Bjarkason

Iceland XI

18:47 , Alex Young

Here’s how the visitors look.

Team news in full

18:42 , Alex Young

England XI: Ramsdale, Walker, Trippier, Rice, Stones, Guehi, Palmer, Mainoo, Kane, Foden, Gordon

Substitutes: Gomez, Henderson, Quansah, Konsa, Gallagher, Toney, Watkins, Alexander-Arnold, Bowen, Eze, Pickford, Wharton, Trafford, Saka

Dom Smith at Wembley

18:39 , Alex Young

Pertinent that Marc Guehi starts alongside John Stones as England’s two centre-backs tonight. That will be England’s centre-back pairing this summer now, given that Harry Maguire has been cut from the squad after fears he would only be fit after the group stage.

Interesting to see Kobbie Mainoo alongside Declan Rice in central midfield; Mainoo was superb in the March internationals and could see a fair amount of game-time this summer.

Starts for Gordon, Foden and Palmer. Hard to tell which of those will play centrally, but Foden is wearing the No10 shirt so perhaps safe to assume it’s him.

England XI

18:38 , Alex Young

Here’s how England line up!

Declan Rice warns Adam Wharton doubters ahead of Euro 2024

18:17 , Alex Young

Anyone still unconvinced by Adam Wharton — Gareth Southgate’s wildcard pick for Euro 2024 — need only listen to the man he may start alongside in England’s opening game, writes Dom Smith.

It has been a meteoric rise for Wharton, who in January left Championship side Blackburn for Crystal Palace, where he has since turned heads.

England’s second midfield slot next to Declan Rice remains unclaimed, but the Arsenal man has offered more than a hint over whom he hopes to partner. “In training, I’ve been on his team quite a lot and [liked] the way we’ve played together,” Rice said of Wharton. “He’s come to Palace, been outstanding, and in training has impressed a lot of the players. He’s so composed on the ball, has a beautiful left foot, really crisp passing. He will be ready when called upon. He’s ready for the big stage.

“There’s a difference between players that are top-level players at 20 and players that are just on the cusp of stuff — and he’s really top-level. He sees a pass early. He plays simple, but beautiful, effective football. I can’t give him enough credit for what he’s done.”

Read more here!

Latest odds

18:08 , Alex Young

It should be a fairly routine send-off for England tonight, and the bookies agree.

• England: 1/12

• Draw: 13/2

• Iceland: 16/1

To win the Euros

• England: 3/1

• France: 4/1

• Germany: 9/2

• Spain, Portugal: 15/2

• Italy, Belgium, Netherlands: 18/1

Odds via Betfair.

Harry Kane question lingers as Gareth Southgate bucks England striker trend

18:00 , Alex Young

When Harry Kane sat out March’s international friendlies, Gareth Southgate made no bones about the scarcity of the chance on offer to Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, who were handed one game apiece, along with a challenge to make the understudy job their own.

“With England, that’s the landscape,” Southgate had said. “You don’t get hundreds of opportunities.”

The assumption then was that the Brentford strikers past and present were in head-to-head competition for one place in England’s Euro plans. Even with squad sizes since swelled to 26, precedent suggested Southgate would find room only for Kane and one other specialist No9.

At the last World Cup, in Qatar, it was Callum Wilson and, before that, Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Euro 2020. Danny Welbeck and Jamie Vardy both went to the 2018 World Cup, but England played a different system then, with Kane and Raheem Sterling as a front-two.

Why break with a formula that has never left England exposed and, by contrast, in banking on Kane’s ever-presence, allowed Southgate more flexibility in areas of greater need?

Read more here!

Marc Guehi must step up quickly to cover for Harry Maguire blow

17:51 , Alex Young

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is now the leading contender to partner John Stones at centre-half at the Euros, and expected to be given more minutes tonight, writes Dan Kilpatrick.

Guehi, who was sidelined for three months until the start of May following knee surgery, has gradually emerged as first change for Maguire or Stones since his debut in March 2022, but he has just 10 caps — and no previous experience at a major tournament.

Southgate’s other options at centre-half are Ezri Konsa, who won his third cap against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, Joe Gomez and Lewis Dunk.

Brighton defender Dunk, sidelined on Friday, has six caps and struggled against Belgium in March, while Gomez returned in that camp for the first time in four years after his career was severely disrupted by a cruciate ligament injury.

England squad for Euros confirmed

17:45 , Alex Young

Gareth Southgate cut his squad down from 33 provisional names to the final 26 earlier than expected on Thursday evening, ahead of Friday’s official Uefa deadline.

James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Trafford and Curtis Jones were all cut, as was injured centre-back Harry Maguire.

Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah was also dropped from the squad but, unlike the others, has remained in camp and could still feature against Iceland.

17:39 , Alex Young

The squad has arrived.

England vs Iceland prediction

17:35 , Alex Young

Results are clearly not the most important thing in the world in these games and England could be forgiven for not risking any injuries, but it would be a surprise not to see them beat their Euro 2016 conquerors with a strong team.

England to win, 3-0.

Iceland team news

17:30 , Alex Young

There are a few familiar faces in the Iceland squad tonight. Brentford's Hakon Valdimarsson is expected to start, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson, formerly of Burnley, is always a threat in attack.

But this is not the strongest of Iceland squads. Albert Gudmundsson, reportedly being tracked by a number of clubs across Europe after impressing with Genoa, is absent.

England team news

17:25 , Alex Young

England are missing two defenders for tonight’s friendly, with Luke Shaw and Lewis Dunk both on the sidelines.

Shaw is still working his way back so will play no part against Iceland, nor in the Serbia clash nine days later. Brighton’s Dunk is also out for the Wembley game but will join full training next week.

It had been thought that the game could come too early for both wingers Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, but both are now in contention to play.

Kane should start after his goalscoring cameo off the bench against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Newcastle on Monday night, taking back the captaincy from Kieran Trippier after a back issue that ended his season at Bayern Munich a couple of games early.

The likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Kobbie Mainoo are also back after joining up with the squad late following their involvement in the FA Cup and Champions League finals, though Bellingham will not be involved tonight. Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale will hope to impress in goal.

Where to watch England vs Iceland

17:20 , Alex Young

TV channel: The game will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on Channel 4. Coverage starts at 7pm BST ahead of a 7:45pm kick-off.

Live stream: Fans will also be able to watch on a free live stream online via the Channel 4 website or app.

Welcome

17:14 , Alex Young

Good evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of England’s final warm-up friendly ahead of Euro 2024.

Iceland, England’s conquerors in 2016, are the opponents as Gareth Southgate & Co. look for a trying but not too testing send-off before flying to Germany.

Harry Kane will start, along with a few who did not get the nod for Monday’s 3-0 win over Bosnia. Kick-off is at 7.45pm. Stick with us.