Raheem Sterling’s last-minute penalty salvaged England from one other embarrassing consequence in opposition to Iceland, as Gareth Southgate‘s males survived taking place to 10 males and Birkir Bjarnason additionally lacking a late spot-kick, to begin their Nations League marketing campaign with a 1-Zero in Reykjavik on Saturday. 4 years on from certainly one of English soccer’s most embarrassing nights in shedding 2-1 to Iceland at Euro 2016, the Three Lions have been removed from the free-scoring power that romped by Euro 2020 qualifying of their first match for 10 months. Harry Kane had an early aim wrongly dominated out for offside earlier than Kyle Walker was sent-off for 2 bookable offences 20 minutes from time.
All of Iceland’s good defensive work was undone within the 89th minute when Sverrir Ingason was additionally harshly dismissed for a second reserving when he blocked Sterling’s shot together with his arm.
With Kane having been changed by Mason Greenwood, Sterling took accountability from the spot, however the drama didn’t finish there.
Straight from kick-off, Joe Gomez was adjudged to have bundled over Holmbert Fridjonsson inside the world, however Bjamason blazed the ensuing penalty over.
Southgate handed a global debut to Manchester Metropolis midfielder Phil Foden, whereas Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse began for the primary time in a aggressive fixture for his nation in an experimental line-up.
Nevertheless, there was nonetheless loads of expertise and promise in a entrance three of Kane, Sterling and Jadon Sancho for England to have had a much more comfy afternoon in Reykjavik.
Kane had the ball within the web for what he thought was his 33rd worldwide aim inside six minutes when he bundled in on the again put up.
Nevertheless, the England captain was wrongly flagged for offside and with no VAR in operation, the guests have been denied.
Sancho has been linked with a transfer to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for greater than 100 million in current months and the 20-year-old was England’s most harmful weapon early on, as he eased previous his marker earlier than teeing up Declan Rice, who miscued his shot with one of the best likelihood of the primary half.
Arnor Traustason curled a free-kick broad with Iceland’s solely try on aim till stoppage time, however the transfer resulting in that effort nonetheless proved pricey for England as Walker picked up his first yellow card.
Southgate’s males continued to benefit from the overwhelming majority of possession within the second interval, however the closest they got here to breaking the impasse earlier than the dramatic finale was when Iceland’s Kari Arnason flicked Kieran Trippier’s free-kick onto his personal put up.
Moments later Walker’s ill-judged lunge to interrupt up an Icelandic counter-attack left his facet a person down.
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A breakthrough didn’t appear like coming till Sterling collected an overhit nook and the ball struck Ingason’s arm in his try to dam the shot.
Sterling coolly rolled his penalty straight down the center and the way Bjarnason wished he had proven the identical composure, as his wild end let England off the hook.
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