Southgate also commented on John Stones' fitness, who was substituted at halftime after an opponent fell on the back of his ankle in the opening minute: 'We think he is probably OK.

We didn't want to take the chance.

' Southgate further spoke after the match: 'I've been involved in a lot of last matches leading into a tournament.

Inevitably, players have one eye on what's coming in terms of early challenges.

No excuses on the result, but there are a lot of things we can put right quickly.

' He emphasized the reality of international football: 'Everyone is saying we're going to go there and walk through and have no problems.

But the reality of international football isn't that.

We've got to be far better without the ball than we were today, and then we've got to show more composure than we've shown with the ball.

'Despite the result, Southgate found some positives: 'We learned a lot.

We know the performance wasn't good enough.

Equally, I think we needed the game.

So many of the players needed the game.

There are a lot of players whose minutes we are managing, who have had a break since the end of the Premier League, where you are trying to refresh them but they are out of the rhythm of playing.

' He acknowledged the disjointed and disappointing performance but saw it as a good focus ahead of the tournament: 'I think we've got to be better without the ball.

I think that there were a lot of reasons for that and across the two games we probably haven't had our full side out across any two games.

We've been able to look at people, we've been able to learn about the balance of the team.

'This is the first time since 1968 that England has lost their final match before a major international tournament.

Declan Rice also spoke to Channel 4 after the match: 'When we have that much of the ball, we have a couple of clear-cut chances and get beat 1-0 at home just before a Euros is not ideal.

But there were a lot of positive performances.

In the end, it becomes a frustration game, you're chasing your tail a little bit and get caught on the counter-attack.

It's not ideal we lost but there's a lot of learning curves you can build on as a team.

' He expressed confidence in their quality on the ball as a collective: 'Maybe against the teams that sit in it's about being a bit mentally switched on.

I felt at times we were a little stretched, not as compact as we usually are.

Inside I'm hurting and between now and the next game there's work to be done.

'Anthony Gordon also spoke to Channel 4 after England's loss: 'It didn't go the way we wanted but it's the bigger picture.

It's great practice for us, that's probably how teams are going to play against us, so the more we play against teams like that and learn to break them down the better.

' On his chances of starting England's first game: 'I hope so.

That's the first time I've kicked a ball really for four weeks so I just wanted to run to go into the tournament feeling fit and feeling fresh.

'Subscribers who support England are not taking this result well.

Here are some of their thoughts, with much of their ire directed towards Gareth Southgate: 'Southgate out.

Take your jumper and your M&S ads with you.

I don't even care that we lost - I just don't care if we're playing anymore.

IT'S.

SO.

BORING.

If you can't get excited to watch your country, what's the point? He's caved into the demands of a bunch of internet simpletons.

We're now far too open at the back, and the attack is made up of a load of randoms who've never played with each other.

I liked Old Southgate that got us deep in tournaments.

Everyone else has got what they wished for.

Good work.

Please can Gareth get the Man U job.

He might actually be able to relegate them because he's absolutely CLUELESS! If we somehow manage to win the Euros it will be in spite of him.

'Gareth Southgate's side conceded the first goal at the national stadium—yet again—and could only huff and puff in search of an equalizer as Iceland, who failed to qualify for this month's tournament, secured a historic first win at Wembley.

This was a downbeat way to finish preparations before the team departs for Germany.

Rob Tanner and Liam Tharme were at Wembley to break down some of the main talking points from the game.

England outshot Iceland 13 to eight tonight, but Iceland recorded four shots on goal to just one for the hosts.

A famous result for Iceland as they win at Wembley for the first time.

As the full-time whistle blew, the cameras showed a young Iceland fan holding up the 1-0 scoreline with his fingers while grinning wide from ear to ear.

The shame for them, of course, is that they failed to qualify for Euro 2024, falling at the final play-off stage.

England can't have too many complaints tonight.

Defensively they have been caught out far too often and while they have had a couple of great chances they should have taken in each half, they haven't created enough opportunities.

The creativity around the box has been lacking tonight.

Worryingly, it has been a disjointed display with only a week to put the issues right.

Southgate has plenty to ponder.

With the upheaval of the squad announcement yesterday, injuries and the displays in the two warm-up games, England head to Germany with issues to resolve.

Boos ring around Wembley as the final whistle blows.

Not the result Gareth Southgate and England wanted on the eve of Euro 2024! Alexander-Arnold nearly scores from nothing, firing a shot from the wing that takes a slight deflection and nearly finds the inside of the far post.

Alternatively, if any of his teammates had been crashing the back post at that moment, they would have had a simple tap-in for an equalizer.

Saka attempts to do it on his own.

He cuts inside one defender from the right wing and unleashes a shot, but it's blocked by the second defender.

Some England fans are beginning to leave Wembley, either to beat the traffic or to avoid seeing the end of a poor result.

Eze was a livewire in attack against Bosnia on Monday and is creating more danger again today.

He combines well with Gomez before crossing for Alexander-Arnold at the far post, but Iceland's defense blocks his ensuing first-time cross.

Saka beats Finnsson down the right flank, forcing the defender to put in a sliding challenge that doesn't come close to the ball.

Finnsson is booked, as Haraldsson was a few moments ago as well.