In a shocking turn of events, the English national team’s pre-tournament friendly against minnows Iceland descended into chaos just a day after the squad announcement. The usually unflappable Three Lions found themselves on the receiving end of a humbling defeat, shattering their air of invincibility.

Defying the odds, Iceland – still riding high from their fairy-tale run at Euro 2016 – stormed to a surprise victory at a stunned Wembley. The Nordic underdogs shattered England’s proud record of never losing a pre-major tournament warm-up match since 1968, and snapped the hosts’ 11-game unbeaten streak against European opposition.

Gareth Southgate’s men, fielding a near full-strength lineup, were left shell-shocked as Iceland took a shock lead in the 12th minute through a clinical counterattacking move. Despite England’s desperate efforts to restore parity, they were unable to unlock a dogged Icelandic defense, much to the dismay of the Wembley faithful.

The defeat will undoubtedly have shaken the confidence of Southgate’s players, who had been widely tipped as one of the favorites for the upcoming European Championship. With Jude Bellingham set to rejoin the squad after the Champions League final, England will be hoping the talismanic midfielder can provide the spark needed to reignite their stuttering preparations.

As the dust settles on this unexpected setback, the English faithful will be praying their team can rediscover their mojo in time for the tournament opener against Serbia on June 17th. The road to Euro 2024 glory has suddenly become a lot more treacherous for the once-confident Three Lions.