England 1-0 Bosnia: Live score and updates from friendly (2024)

Dust off those flags and get those bumper stickers ready — Euro 2024 is here. Three years after their Wembley heartbreak at the hands of Italy in the last edition of the tournament, Gareth Southgate’s England side are gearing up for another stab at glory.

This time they are going behind enemy lines to Germany where, if all goes according to plan, the captain Harry Kane will lift the trophy at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on July 14. But before all that, Southgate must whittle down a 33-man provisional training squad to 26 for the tournament.

With those involved in the FA Cup and Champions League finals still enjoying some well-earned time off, England’s fringe players have a chance to impress — starting with a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina this evening. Follow all the action, with analysis from Paul Joyce, here.

Paul Joyce: Adam Wharton is making an instant impression with his neat passing and economy of touches.

Southgate was full of praise for the midfielder on the eve of the game, indicating that the 20-year-old had impressed in training and mentioned his desire to pass forward at every opportunity. That has been evident so far. He still faces a battle to force his way into the final 26-man squad when it is submitted to Uefa by midnight on June 7, the day England host Iceland at Wembley, but he looks comfortable in this company.

Ezri Konsa is pulled down in the box as a corner comes in and, after a VAR review, the referee points to the spot. With Harry Kane not around, Cole Palmer makes no mistake from the spot to give England the lead.

Paul Joyce: England have deserved that breakthrough. A good use of VAR to see Benjamin Tahirovic grabbing a handful of Konsa’s shirt at a corner and Palmer dispatching the spot kick. It was the Chelsea man’s first senior England goal and his last touch of the night as he has been replaced with England making five substitutions.

There are debuts for Adam Wharton — what a six months he has had since swapping Blackburn Rovers for Crystal Palace — and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. Trent Alexander-Arnold, England’s best player, has moved to right back with James Maddison as the No 10. Harry Kane and Jack Grealish are also on.

Back underway at St James’ Park with no changes for either side.

Channel 4 have just revealed that Jordan Pickford went to the wrong dressing room at half-time — perhaps as a former Mackem, there was some unconscious bias there…

Paul Joyce: A booking for Marc Guéhi following a rash challenge on Armin Gigovic and a couple of wayward passes out of defence by the Crystal Palace centre back mean he has had something of a mixed half. At other times, he has been fine.

This amounts to an audition for Guéhi given Harry Maguire is unlikely to be fit for the Serbia game as he is not yet in team training following a muscle problem that curtailed his season with Manchester United on April 27. For all the attacking talent England possess, their defensive options are not always convincing. Against the best teams, surrendering possession cheaply will be punished.

A less than thrilling half comes to an end with no breakthrough in Newcastle. Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been the bright sparks for Gareth Southgate’s side.

It hasn’t been the most entertaining of starts as St James’ Park but Eberechi Eze is doing his best to get the crowd off their feet, dropping his shoulders this way and that as he beats several Bosnia defenders with one excellent run.

He and Alexander-Arnold have certainly been the standouts so far.

Paul Joyce: Trent Alexander-Arnold has made a confident start. There was a lovely, 60-yard ball pinged to Eberechi Eze on the left before a threaded pass into Cole Palmer which resulted in a chance for Ollie Watkins. The Liverpool vice-captain has also shown restraint at other times not to try and force passes, while he has plugged gaps to prevent Bosnia from mustering momentum on the counter.

Gareth Southgate has said who plays alongside Declan Rice is his biggest headache going into the Euros and he will be hoping Alexander-Arnold continues in this form. Alongside him, Conor Gallagher has also been industrious, snapping into tackles.

Almost a goal from Ollie Watkins, who is slipped in by the lively Cole Palmer. His shot is straight at the goalkeeper, though.

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is fizzing some decent passes around in midfield.

A big chance for some of these players to get themselves on the plane — here we go.

A touching tribute at the ground to Rob Burrow, the rugby league legend and MND campaigner who has died aged 41.

Plenty of support for the Three Lions in Newcastle tonight.

Kieran Trippier will captain England this evening in the stadium where he plays his club football and will walk out with his son, who is a mascot for the game.

Over on the club side of the game, and to the surprise of absolutely nobody, Real Madrid have announced the signing of French forward Kylian Mbappé, a man England will more than likely have to stop if they are to win the Euros this summer.

A solid transfer that should have Real right back in contention after they, er, won La Liga and the Champions League. More on the website soon.

Paul Joyce: England’s opening game at Euro 2024 against Serbia is just 13 days away and there are only three starters in tonight’s friendly who appear guaranteed to make the first XI in Gelsenkirchen.

Jordan Pickford is sure to be the No 1, Kieran Trippier will play at left back given Luke Shaw’s fitness problems and, similarly, Marc Guéhi seems certain to play at centre back with Harry Maguire set to miss the opening group C fixture.

The visit of Bosnia represents a big night for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who starts in midfield and will hope to deliver a performance which persuades Gareth Southgate to strongly consider his merits when the tournament kicks-off.

It’s an unfamiliar England line-up tonight, as expected, with Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze handed their first starts for England. With the likes of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw not able to take part due to injury, there is also a fresh look to the back line, with Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi and Lewis Dunk lining up alongside Kieran Trippier and in front of Jordan Pickford. Trent Alexander-Arnold starts in midfield.

England XI: J Pickford; E Konsa, M Guéhi, L Dunk, K Trippier; T Alexander-Arnold, C Gallagher, E Eze; C Palmer, O Watkins, J Bowen.

Substitutes: A Ramsdale, J Gomez, J Branthwaite, J Quansah, D Rice, I Toney, J Grealish, J Maddison, H Kane, C Jones, D Henderson, A Wharton, J Trafford.

Bosnia-Herzegovina XI: Vasilj; Ahmedhodzic, Bicakcic, Katic; Gazibegovic, Saric, Tahirovic, Radeljic; Hajradinovic; Demirovic, Gigovic.