The climb as much as the higher tier of the Allianz Riviera Stadium was a deal with. What first caught my consideration eight years in the past was the view of the pastel hills of the Côte d'Azur mirrored within the brilliant blue sky above the entrance stand.
The second factor was the sound. This was new to a few of us. The gradual, rhythmic clapping coming from the massive group of Iceland followers regularly received louder and louder till it reached a climax and at last died down.
It quickly grew to become the soundtrack to England's humiliating defeats. That day in June 2016, which ended with England's 2-1 defeat in Good within the second spherical of the 2016 European Championship, was one of many worst moments in our sport's historical past. Some in contrast it to the defeat to the USA in Belo Horizonte within the 1950 World Cup.
Eight years later, all these unhealthy reminiscences, all these uncomfortable associations, got here again
Eight years in the past Iceland despatched England residence from the match with a humiliating defeat. This time, once they inflicted one other demoralising defeat on the bookmakers' favourites in Germany, they ensured England went again to their humiliating begin to the match.
England misplaced 1-0 to Iceland of their closing warm-up match forward of Euro 2024 subsequent week
Gareth Southgate's facet have been unable to interrupt down their disciplined guests at Wembley
This defeat introduced again reminiscences of the painful encounter between the 2 groups in Euro 2016
England's first match of the European Championship is simply 9 days away, however based mostly on this efficiency it's a disgrace England can't petition for a delay. They don't look prepared.
It was a grim night time at Wembley, an evening when the optimism generated by Southgate's collection of a brilliant, daring workforce stuffed with proficient and thrilling younger attacking expertise vanished into the London air with this 1-0 defeat.
It was an evening determined by Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson's first-half aim, when what was presupposed to be a rousing send-off for the workforce grew to become a grim actuality for England's hopes of profitable the European Championship in Germany.
It was an evening when the house followers rushed for the exits ten minutes earlier than the tip of the match, abandoning many empty seats for the reds. It was an evening when this workforce, with all of the attacking expertise, returned empty-handed. It was a match that ended with individuals murmuring and jeering.
And it was an evening when all of the fears about England's fragile defence changed into a disappointing actuality. Iceland are ranked 72nd on the planet however there have been occasions once they troubled England with their glorious passing and composure.
It was not a foul outcome. England seemed unable to get going and susceptible on the again. Most worryingly, they seemed like strangers. They seemed like gamers who had simply discovered one another's names, not gamers able to battle.
There are some consolations. The primary is that Jude Bellingham just isn’t taking part in. He’s nonetheless recovering from a protracted season with Actual Madrid, having received the Champions League final weekend. England can be higher with him within the facet.
The opposite comfort, in fact, is that this was a pleasant. It was a tune-up. It wasn't just like the match in Good, which signalled the tip. It might be comforting to say we shouldn't connect an excessive amount of significance to it, however the issues on the again, specifically, are unlikely to go away.
England have improved loads since that night time in Good, nevertheless it didn't appear to be that right here. They seemed moribund and inconsiderate going ahead. They seemed drained. They seemed disorganised.
Regardless of its struggles in assault right here, this workforce is loaded with targets. The concern is that its defence, too, may very well be susceptible when up in opposition to Germany's main groups.
With that in thoughts, England suffered a giant blow within the first minute when Stones fell awkwardly and Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson landed on the again of his leg. Stones has suffered numerous accidents this season and was down for some time. He was capable of proceed taking part in, however didn’t appear to be he was transferring freely.
Former Fulham youth participant Jon Thorsteinsson finds house to fireplace in early
The ahead curled his shot in direction of the close to put up, giving Iceland an surprising lead within the twelfth minute.
Aaron Ramsdale seemed visibly upset after conceding the primary aim at Wembley.
England's uneasiness grew after 12 minutes. Iceland performed the ball out of defence and beat England's press with embarrassing ease. Manu was caught too far ahead and when the ball handed to Thorsteinsson, he reduce inside Stones and beat Aaron Ramsdale at his close to put up.
The stadium fell silent. England tried to search out rhythm and urgency and Rice put strain on goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson and handed the ball straight to Palmer who took it on his chest and headed it in direction of aim, however Daniel Gretarsson stopped it.
The ambiance inside Wembley was mournful, enlivened solely by the occasional cheer for a paper airplane taking off. England's impotence and the benefit with which Iceland have been capable of threaten them was sobering.
Nonetheless, England saved composure and will have equalised earlier than the half-hour. Palmer was one of many England gamers on the transfer and put a beautiful, refined cross into the field that discovered Harry Kane unmarked just a few yards out. The gang was already celebrating however Kane lifted his volley over the bar. Nothing was going proper.
The remainder of the half handed in a uninteresting, exhausting, quiet stalemate. It solely got here to an finish a minute earlier than the interval when Iceland virtually went forward. England allowed their opponents to chop the ball again to Arnor Traustason from the goalline and solely an excellent block by Guehi prevented the guests from doubling their lead.
When the half-time whistle blew, some individuals let loose a boring hooting.
Issues over Stones' health grew when he didn’t play within the second half, changed by Ezri Konsa as centre again, however England not less than created a uncommon second of menace when Phil Foden and Gordon exchanged passes and Foden fired a beautiful shot that missed large.
Palmer once more confirmed his fast considering and excellent approach when he dribbled previous a defender to Kane's supply, which the England captain headed ahead with the surface of his proper foot. Palmer tried to twist his shot contained in the close to put up however the ball went into the side-netting.
Palmer ought to have scored a couple of minutes later when a intelligent ball from Rice put him previous the goalkeeper. Unusually, Palmer hesitated and as an alternative of capturing, he tried to put the ball off to Valdimarsson once more and Valdimarsson stayed on his toes, forcing Palmer out and blocking his shot.
However Iceland had the higher possibilities. Thorsteinsson ought to have scored when he had the ball and solely needed to beat Ramsdale, however he misplaced his steadiness to the touch the ball and the ball went out harmlessly.
Anthony Gordon coming again for England within the first half was one of many few positives
However the substitute of John Stones as a consequence of harm has added to the concerns forward of Euro 2024
The house workforce missed good possibilities to attain even on the uncommon events once they managed to create them.
Thorsteinsson virtually doubled Iceland's lead after half-time however slipped when a cross reached him
A couple of minutes later, centre again Sverrir Ingason misplaced his marker too simply from an Iceland nook and ran in direction of the again put up. He caught the ball effectively and headed it down however Ramsdale blocked it together with his legs. It was an enormous aid for Southgate's facet.
The England boss made numerous participant modifications and Trent Alexander-Arnold got here on at proper again and made a right away impression, curling an excellent ball over the Iceland defence to Ivan Toney. Toney tried to catch the ball however the referee signalled for play to proceed.
England had just a few possibilities in direction of the tip, however nothing extra. It was a pleasant match. It wasn't a giant defeat, nevertheless it did point out a variety of issues that have been lurking inside.
