ENGLAND have beaten Bosnia 3-0 in a Euro 2024 warm-up match at St James’ Park.
On the hour mark, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after a lacklustre opening 60 minutes from Gareth Southgate’s side.
Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled the Three Lions’ lead with five minutes to go with a stunning volley from the tightest of angles.
England skipper Harry Kane came off the bench to wrap things up and score his side’s third of the night as Southgate’s side kicked off their final preparations for Euro 2024 with a 3-0 win.
The Three Lions gaffer needs to whittle down his current 33-man squad list to 26 later this week – and he may have a headache or two.
- Match result: England 3-0 Bosnia
- England team: Pickford, Konsa, Dunk, Guehi, Trippier, Gallagher, Alexander-Arnold, Bowen, Eze, Palmer, Watkins
- Bosnia team: Vasilj, Ahmedhodzic, Bicakcic, Katic, Gazibegovic, Saric, Tahirovic, Radeljic, Hajradinovic, Demirovic, Gigovic
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Boss offers glimpse for Iceland
During his post-match interview, Gareth Southgate told Channel 4 that Harry Kane will be starting against Iceland on Friday.
Looking to make his gradual recovery from injury, for the manager, it is integral that he has his talisman in peak physical form for Euro 2024.
How many minutes he will feature for remains to be seen but the Bayern Munich striker will be leading the line against Iceland.
Grealish stars from the bench
Jack Grealish played a huge part in two goals for the Three Lions after making a substitute appearance this evening.
His pinpoint cross picked out Alexander-Arnold at the back post, who drilled his effort into the far corner of the goal.
It was Grealish’s trickery, getting to the byline, that led to an easy goal for Harry Kane to put the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.
Credit: Getty Getting a Cole on debut
Cole Palmer will have been pleased that Harry Kane was on the bench when the penalty was awarded, giving him the chance to get his first England goal.
The Chelsea talisman calmly slotted his shot into the bottom corner showing such composure from the youngster.
Southgate will have seen what he can add to this England team and his only headache now will be how to fit all these players into his starting XI.
Credit: Getty
Eagle soars at St James’ Park
Eberechi Eze will have done his chances of going to the Euros no harm whatsoever this evening.
His pace and skill caused Bosnia problems all game.
He slotted in well to Gareth Southgate’s side and will give him some selection headaches when it comes to the bigger games.
FT: England 3-0 Bosnia
A comprehensive victory for England at St James’ Park.
Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer were the stand-out performers before Southgate rang the changes.
Both players will be hoping they have done enough to work their way into the manager’s reckoning for Euro 2024.
FT: England 3-0 Bosnia
The referee brings the game to a close.
It is an easy victory for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Onwards and upwards to bigger things for the Three Lions.
England 3-0 Bosnia
90+4. England are happy to knock the ball around now until the final whistle.
It has been one-way traffic in this second half.
Bosnia have worked tirelessly in this game but there is a definite gulf in class between the sides.
England 3-0 Bosnia
90+2. Not quite sure whether this is really a three-nil performance by the Three Lions.
The scoreline flatters the performance slightly.
Not that any England fans will be complaining, it all adds confidence as we edge closer to this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament.
England 3-0 Bosnia
90. Grealish cuts the ball back from the byline and Branthwaite pokes the ball towards goal.
It is blocked by the Bosnian defender but Kane is on hand to slot home, with the keeper unable to keep the effort out.
We are going to have four additional minutes.
England 2-0 Bosnia
88. This is looking a far more comfortable victory now.
Alexander-Arnold’s goal has put the icing on the cake for Gareth Southgate.
Gallagher looks to run through the middle and get a shot away but it is well saved by the keeper as his tips it around the post.
Credit: Reuters England 2-0 Bosnia
86. Grealish plays a ball into the back post and picks out the Liverpool defender well.
Alexander-Arnold strikes the ball on the volley into the far corner of the goal.
Great strike by the defender.
Goal – Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
England 1-0 Bosnia
84. Wharton has looked quite at home in this England midfield since coming on in the second half.
Bowen is bundled over outside the box but the referee plays advantage.
England look to spread the ball out wide to Grealish.
England 1-0 Bosnia
82. Bosnia bring on more fresh legs.
Grealish is fouled out wide and wins a free kick.
This game has moved to a snail’s pace now.
England 1-0 Bosnia
80. England are continuing to knock on the door now.
Bosnia are getting players behind the ball and blocking anything Southgate’s side try to throw as the Bosnian keeper.
The visitors seem content to keep England out now and take this somewhat respectable scoreline.
England 1-0 Bosnia
78. This game seems to be going through the motions now.
England are starting to put more crisp passing moves together since the substitutions.
Glimpses of what fans can expect when more of the first team are on the pitch.
England 1-0 Bosnia
76. Branthwaite is shown a yellow card for a foul on Gigovic.
The Everton defender seemed to come straight through the Bosnian, resulting in a clash of heads.
Play is held up as the Gigovic receives some treatment.
England 1-0 Bosnia
74. Gomez comes on for Dunk for the Three Lions.
There won’t be many teams around Europe watching this one fearing facing Gareth Southgate’s team in Euro 2024.
They just don’t seem to get out of second gear often enough.
It was clearly evident at the recent World Cup in Qatar.
Credit: Reuters England 1-0 Bosnia
72. Kane receives the ball with his back to goal.
He turns the defender and hits a rasping shots towards goal.
The keeper does well to beat it away.
England 1-0 Bosnia
70. As the ball is lofted into the back post to Kane, he takes his eye off it and it strikes his head and goes over the bar.
The defender seemed to do enough to put off England’s record goalscorer.
It looks as though Joe Gomez is about to join the action.
England 1-0 Bosnia
68. It is a slightly more lively atmosphere in St James’ Park now.
Bowen plays the ball into the path of Kane who only has one thing on his mind.
He shifts the ball ino front of him and looks to get a shot off but it is deflected over the bar at the expense of a corner.
England 1-0 Bosnia
66. Gallagher gets to the byline and looks to cut it back but it is well blocked by the Bosnian defender.
Maddison steps up to take the corner but the visitors manage to clear the cross.
It is one-way traffic at the moment, Bosnia really have struggled to create anything going forward in this half.
England 1-0 Bosnia
64. Bowen is fouled in a dangerous position, just outside the box.
Maddison and Alexander-Arnold are stood over it.
The Tottenham man drifts a ball into the box but it is a poor delivery and goes striaght out for a goal kick.
Credit: Getty England 1-0 Bosnia
62. Southgate will take any win as a positive this evening.
England have been about as convincing as the foul that led to the spot kick.
Having opened the scoring, he will be hoping the floodgates now open with Harry Kane on the pitch.
England 1-0 Bosnia
60. After a VAR review, they order the referee to the monitor.
There was a pull on Guehi but he really made a theatrical dive once he felt it.
Palmer drills the ball into the bottom corner to give England the lead.
Southgate makes a number of changes, including Adam Wharton and Jarrad Branthwaite, both making their Three Lions’ debuts.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
