June 3rd 2024.
England faced a tough battle against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second-to-last warm-up game before the highly anticipated Euro 2024 tournament. Despite a slow start and a frustrating first hour, the Three Lions managed to secure a 3-0 victory over their opponents.
The match took place at a packed St James' Park, where the home crowd witnessed a late surge of goals from England. The first goal came from a penalty, calmly converted by Cole Palmer, breaking the deadlock and giving England the much-needed lead. This was followed by a brilliant volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold, assisted by Jack Grealish, and a goal from Harry Kane after a chaotic scramble in the box.
Although the performance may have been lacklustre in the first 60 minutes, England manager Gareth Southgate will not be too worried as he knows his team has the potential to produce more fluid and cohesive play. The next test for the team will be on Friday when they face Iceland before heading to Germany for the Euros.
Having reached the last three major tournaments and even reaching the final of the last Euros, England is considered one of the favorites to win Euro 2024. This is thanks to their talented and experienced players, such as Eberechi Eze, who had an impressive season with Crystal Palace and showed his skills once again under the lights of St James' Park.
The 25-year-old winger, who was recently called up to the provisional squad, dazzled the crowd with his pace and direct dribbling. He was a constant threat to the Bosnian defense and showed his creativity by setting up chances for his teammates. His performance on the left-wing position, which is still up for grabs following Marcus Rashford's absence, has surely caught the eye of Southgate.
Another standout performer was Cole Palmer, who scored his first goal for England after being awarded a penalty for a foul on Ezri Konsa. The young Chelsea playmaker has been in sensational form, scoring 13 goals from open play this season. His penalty-taking abilities have also been impressive, having converted all nine that he took for Chelsea in the Premier League.
However, it may be a challenge for Southgate to find a place for Palmer in the team once Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden return. But with his exceptional performance against Bosnia, he has surely made a strong case for himself and may be on his way to Germany with the team.
There were also a few players who did not have the chance to shine in this game, such as Marc Guehi, who was hoping to secure a spot in the team as a possible replacement for the injured Harry Maguire. However, the Crystal Palace defender did not have a standout performance and was substituted after England took the lead. With Maguire's return looking uncertain, Southgate may need to assess his options carefully.
On the other hand, some players, like Ivan Toney, did not even get a chance to play. The Brentford striker had a quiet end to the season and many have questioned whether he is in good enough form to be Kane's backup. With Kane's impressive performance and England's need to take only two strikers, Toney may face tough competition for a spot in the final squad.
In the end, the 3-0 victory over Bosnia was a positive result for England, but it also highlighted some tough decisions that Southgate will have to make when finalizing his squad for Euro 2024. The team will need to continue their strong performances and work together as they aim to bring the trophy home.
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