The England team suffered a 0-1 defeat against Iceland in a friendly match, leaving Southgate’s squad to fly to Germany on the back of a loss. Post-match, the players’ lackluster performance drew criticism, with three Manchester City starters being particular targets.
Grealish’s exclusion from England’s 26-man Euro squad was already a focal point before the game, with reports suggesting that one England international had directly questioned Southgate. While the identity of the player who “challenged” Southgate remains anonymous, Walker, Stones, and Foden from Manchester City were inevitably under suspicion. All three started against Iceland and delivered disappointing performances, with Foden in particular receiving heavy criticism from the media after the match.
Southgate entrusted half of his defense to City players, only to witness a nightmare. Stones seemed unprepared for the challenge, with tall Icelandic opponents tumbling over his ankles, leading to his substitution by Caglar Soyuncu at halftime. Walker’s display was disastrous, seemingly more of a mental issue than physical.
Perhaps underestimating the opposition or not being at his peak physically, Walker’s performance did not live up to his stature, and he put little effort, especially in offside traps. The Sun even queried post-match: Is England’s right-back position really that secure? Should Holland apologize to Ben White (to recall him to the squad)?
Foden, the Premier League Player of the Season, started as a central attacking midfielder, debunking those who advocated for him to play in the middle. Despite England’s few chances created, it was not largely Foden’s fault. The problem seemed to be the lack of connection between Foden and the rest of England’s midfield and attack, even with 68% possession. These questions will accompany Southgate and his team to Germany.
