International Friendly: England start Euros prep with a win
England 3 - 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Cole Palmer celebrated his first start for England by setting Gareth Southgate's team on the path to victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James' Park, as preparations for Euro 2024 continued.
England's heavily rotated side struggled to find their rhythm in a scrappy match. Still, they eventually broke the deadlock an hour in when Palmer confidently converted a penalty after Ezri Konsa was fouled during a corner.
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold secured the win with a fine volley at the far post five minutes before full-time. Harry Kane then added a third from close range, giving the final scoreline a more convincing look.
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Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, also making his full debut, was a standout performer until he was substituted, giving manager Southgate much to consider as he finalises his squad for the tournament in Germany after Friday's friendly against Iceland at Wembley.
In a game with few chances before England's late surge, Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins was thwarted by an early save from goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, while Alexander-Arnold displayed flashes of his impressive passing range in a midfield role.
Southgate made several changes after the break, with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton earning their first full caps.
The England manager now has one more chance to assess his team before the serious action begins in Germany with the match against Serbia on 16 June.
Understandably, England's line-up had an experimental feel, with many first-choice players unavailable or on the bench, which resulted in a disjointed and uninspired first hour.
However, England made up for the poor start with a strong finish, although it took late goals from Alexander-Arnold and Kane to underline their superiority.
Palmer's penalty, taken with his usual confidence, will have pleased the 22-year-old forward, who was likely already set for a spot in the Germany squad.
His goal capped off a remarkable season that began at Manchester City before he moved to Chelsea, where he has become a standout performer. He has now scored in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, European Super Cup, Community Shield, and international football during a stellar campaign.
A first @England senior goal for Cole Palmer 🥶
— Premier League (@premierleague) June 3, 2024
He scores from the penalty spot for the lead against Bosnia & Herzegovina! pic.twitter.com/YB9g7gEVGr
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Alexander-Arnold's goal struck crisply from Jack Grealish's cross, highlighted his attacking abilities and compensated for a lacklustre first half when he was surprisingly careless with possession. He showcased his full passing range after the interval.
One of the key positives was Eze's performance, as he vies to influence Southgate's squad decisions ahead of the final squad cut to 26 players after the Iceland match.
Overall, there were few standout performances for Southgate, leaving many positions still up for grabs in the Wembley friendly.
Southgate's selection for that match will provide a clearer indication of his thinking as he aims for another chance at glory in Germany, where he and England hope to shed their 'nearly men' reputation and end the men's team's title drought that has lasted since the 1966 World Cup.
