Key events
Retro delights. For those brave enough to relive that evening in Nice …
… and this is what happened the last time the teams met, for those who need cheering up having just been reminded of the above.
Aaron Ramsdale gets a rare start in goal tonight. It’ll be the Arsenal keeper’s fourth cap, and he’s one of a number of players gaining some precious international experience this evening: Kobbie Mainoo and Anthony Gordon win their third caps, Cole Palmer his fourth. Iceland have some Premier League representation in their team, in the shape of Brentford keeper Hákon Valdimarsson and their captain Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson of Burnley.
The teams
England: Ramsdale, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Mainoo, Rice, Palmer, Foden, Gordon, Kane.
Subs: Henderson, Gomez, Gallagher, Toney, Watkins, Alexander-Arnold, Bowen, Eze, Pickford, Wharton, Saka, Quansah, Trafford.
Iceland: Valdimarsson, Bjarkason, Gretarsson, Ingason, Finnsson, Traustason, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Arnar Haraldsson, Gudjohnsen, Thorsteinsson, Anderson.
Subs: Elias Olafsson, Patrik Gunnarsson, Sampsted, Thorarinsson, Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason, Arnor Sigurdsson, Fridriksson, Johannesson, Saevar Magnusson, Hlynsson, Tomasson, Pordarson.
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy).
Preamble
England – now no longer featuring Jarrad Branthwaite, Jack Grealish, Curtis Jones, James Maddison or Harry Maguire – conclude their preparations for Euro 2024 with this friendly against Iceland. The Three Lions have a positive record against the Icelanders, having won three and drawn one of their five previous games; on the other hand, they’ve lost the only one that really mattered, at Euro 2016, the nadir of river-cruise enthusiast Roy Hodgson’s reign. The last meeting was a 4-0 rout at Wembley, in 2020, so most expect Gareth Southgate’s side to sign off ahead of their jaunt to Germany with a similar momentum-building victory; Iceland only just narrowly missed out on Euros qualification, mind, so let’s take nothing for granted. Kick-off is at 7.45pm. It’s on. HÚH!