WORLD NEWS – AU – Foden’s twinkling double sinks Iceland and completes the return from England with a cold

It was one of those occasions where England lost more than winning. In front of them Iceland were shattered and exhausted, having lost six of their seven games previously this season – including the Euro 2020 playoff game against Hungary – and marking the end of Erik Hamren’s coaching tenure.. .

Beginning to haggle with players from unfashionable clubs, it was always an exercise in England’s attack against their defense, when it would be difficult to read deeply into what was being played.

England did what it had to do in winning and avoided anything catastrophic, which could happen against these opponents. There was a magical moment for Declan Rice when he opened the scoring with his first goal for England and eye-catching performances from Bukayo Saka and Mason Mount, who scored the second goal.. . But it was, above all, a one-player night.

Phil Foden made his England debut against Iceland in Reykjavik at the start of the season, although what happened in the team’s hotel room the next day was somewhat more famous.. This was his redemption. Back in the starting line-up for the first time, enjoy the ball at his feet, and show off some great touches and skills. Better yet, there was a finished product. He made Rice’s goal with an attractive free kick and there were two late goals on his own – his first for the first team – in the final stages..

Both were flogged with the first left foot at close range after substitute Jadon Sancho was slashed. Second outside of the area, low-precision shot after a few touches to adjust himself. It was bribe. We must remember the dearth of opposition. But Foden declared himself on this level.

It was a night when Southgate made a statement to the Premier League managers, and some were, as he previously admitted, « tremendous pressure » on their players not to participate in playing with international players, especially those who did not enjoy a great ride. Southgate started with the strongest team available to him. It will never rest the players. Why on him? As time goes by before the Euro Championships, every game counts, every game is an opportunity to build and fine-tune. His experiment was initially limited to using what he described as « two numbers not 10 » – Jack Grealish and Foden – in the spaces around Harry Kane..

Southgate did the same in Sunday’s defeat to Belgium and that means England effectively started with a pair of home-roaming forwards, rather than wider forwards; The focus is more on versatility than speed. The show has to come from the wings.

Iceland was physically relentless and pressured into a 5-3-2 regime. When they won the early corner kick, they put five men around Jordan Pickford, and inevitably foul.. The question for England was, as it always was, whether they could award a prize to Iceland.

England took charge after an awkward opening with a goal from a set piece and it was a moment Rice will never forget. Nor will Foden, in this regard; The 20-year-old’s free kick was hit from the left flank, and Rice, having timed his run, used speed on the ball to shoot his header – with a big shoulder – into the far corner..

The worst case scenario for England was that Iceland would frustrate them and grow as they spend the minutes up to the results.. Once there was a clean sheet of paper off the table, the relief was palpable. England could relax the match.

Southgate began running Mount midfield alongside Rice but with orders to proceed. This was not a game for a double axle, and when Mount arrived in the area midway through the first half, he finished smartly. Saka created the opportunity with a cross pass from the left flank and the ball reached a mountain after a weak defense from Iceland and a nudge from Kane..

England was much smoother, clearer and more comfortable handling the ball, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given the level of the opponents. Foden enjoyed himself, his fast feet fascinate those in blue, at times, and he was turned down twice before the break by Augmondor Christenson..

Saka was also prominent in the third game in a row, working as a goalkeeper in the 22nd minute after Grealish’s defense was cut short. . Saca went to great lengths to make his claims through this window, before Ben Chilwell.

Southgate stressed that it was the 3-4-3 personnel that defined the tactical view, not the system itself, and with Mount and Saka instead of injured Jordan Henderson and Chilwell, the phone call was directed towards the attack..

Saka was too quick for Iceland’s right-sided defender, Birker Mar Sivarson, who caught him in the 11th minute to get his first warning.. It was too late and sore, and when Saka pulled in the 54th minute Iceland slumped to 10.

England wanted more goals, and none more than Kane, who missed chances twice in the first half. He was hit by a blocked bullet in the second and fired a free kick into the wall. It was not his night. Foden was showing him the way to the goal and Saka had to add just the fifth goal to hit a header at close range from Foden’s cross..

Before posting, we would like to thank you for joining the discussion – we are glad you chose to participate and we appreciate your views and experiences..

Please choose the username under which you want all of your comments to appear. You can only set your username one time.

Please keep your posts respectful and adhere to our Community Guidelines – and if you notice a comment that you think does not adhere to the guidelines, please use the « Report » link next to it to let us know.

England national football team, European Nations League, Iceland national football team, Gareth Southgate, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish