Booed off by schoolchildren, Southgate's new England stumble off towards Euro 2024

In defeat to Iceland at Wembley the tournament favourites looked too, too dead, free of energy, resistance, the things that make a team

ENGLAND EXPECTS: England manager Gareth Southgate passes on instructions to Ivan Toney before he is brought on as a substitute during an international friendly at Wembley Stadium, London. Pic: PA Wire

By the time the PA announcer had announced a “lap of appreciation”, with what seemed at the time to be viciously mocking levels of excitement, England’s players found themselves applauding a vast expanse of empty red plastic seats. One of the big fears with tournament football, among the better teams, is peaking too early. On that front, at least, England seem safe.

Instead they took the nuclear option, the ultimate dial-back, booed off by schoolchildren having lost 1-0 to an Iceland team that is now ranked 72nd in the world. And not just lost, but lost badly, like a team playing through a notably gruelling migraine.