Gareth Southgate is optimistic that England’s loss to Iceland will act as a wake-up call ahead of Euro 2024.

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In a disappointing performance, England suffered a 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley in a friendly match. Gareth Southgate, the England manager, hopes that this defeat will serve as a wake-up call for the team ahead of Euro 2024.

Southgate acknowledged the disjointed and disappointing performance, stating that the team lacked character. However, he believes that this experience will be beneficial before an international tournament.

Southgate emphasized the need for improvement without the ball and acknowledged that the team has not had its full side out across any two games. He sees these matches as an opportunity to assess players and learn about the team’s balance. Despite the result, Southgate believes that there are many things that can be corrected quickly.

Declan Rice, who played the full 90 minutes in midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo, expressed his disappointment after the defeat. He highlighted the areas where England needs to improve before the finals. Rice mentioned that despite having a lot of possession and creating clear-cut chances, losing 1-0 at home just before the Euros is far from ideal. He believes that the match against Iceland provided insight into how teams may set up against England.

Rice acknowledged the positive performances but noted that the team needs to be mentally switched on when facing teams that sit back. He felt that the team was stretched and not as compact as usual. Rice expressed his frustration and emphasized the need for work to be done before the next game.

Looking ahead, Rice hopes that his midfield partnership with Mainoo can continue to flourish in the coming weeks. He believes that every game is an opportunity to learn and improve as a team, despite the criticism that may come their way.

Overall, England’s defeat to Iceland has highlighted areas for improvement and serves as a reminder of the challenges they may face in Euro 2024. The team will be looking to rectify their mistakes and build on the positive performances in order to be better prepared for the tournament.