Cole Palmer marked his first England start by leading Gareth Southgate’s side to victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James’ Park as preparations for Euro 2024 continued.
England’s heavily rotated team struggled to find their rhythm for much of the scrappy match but finally broke the deadlock at the hour mark when Palmer converted a penalty after Ezri Konsa was pulled back during a corner.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold secured the friendly win with a fine volley at the far post five minutes from time, and Harry Kane added a close-range goal, giving the final score a more convincing look.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, also making his full debut, was a bright spark until his substitution, giving manager Southgate something to consider as he finalizes his squad for the tournament in Germany following Friday’s friendly against Iceland at Wembley.
In a game with few opportunities before England’s late surge, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was denied by an early save from keeper Nikola Vasilj, while Alexander-Arnold showcased his passing ability from a midfield position.
Southgate made additional changes after the break, giving Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton their first full caps.
The England manager now has one more chance to evaluate his team before the serious action begins in Germany, starting with a meeting against Serbia on June 16.
What did Gareth Southgate learn?
England’s line-up had an experimental feel with many first-choice players either unavailable or on the bench, which was evident in a disorganized and uninspired first hour.
However, England managed to compensate for the poor start with a strong finish, thanks to late goals from Alexander-Arnold and Kane that highlighted their superiority.
Palmer’s penalty, executed with his usual composure, will have pleased the 22-year-old forward, who was likely already assured of his spot in Germany even before this match. His goal capped off a remarkable campaign that began at Manchester City before he became Chelsea’s standout performer. He has now scored in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, European Super Cup, Community Shield, and international football in a stellar season.
Alexander-Arnold’s goal, crisply struck from Jack Grealish’s cross, showcased his attacking potential and compensated for a lackluster first half where he was surprisingly wasteful in possession. He displayed his full range of passing abilities after the break.
One of the big positives was Eberechi Eze’s performance, as he aims to force Southgate’s hand or prompt a late change of mind before the squad is trimmed to 26 after the Iceland game.
Other than that, there were few standout performances or major takeaways for Southgate, leaving much still up for grabs in the friendly at Wembley.
Southgate’s selection for that game will provide a clearer picture of his thoughts as he targets another shot at glory in Germany, aiming to shed the ‘nearly men’ tag and end a title drought for the men’s team that dates back to the 1966 World Cup.