England 3-0 Bosnia
by Roger Domeneghetti
at St James’ Park

JOB DONE. Sort of. Despite the emphatic scoreline, England will need to put in more inspiring performances than this if they are to come close to justifying their position as the bookies’ favourites for the Euros.

This first of two “send-off” games before the tournament begins in less than a fortnight’s time, very much had the feel of a dress rehearsal with the main players missing.

Of the starting XI, only keeper Jordan Pickford, Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier, who led the team out, and perhaps Trent Alexander-Arnold are likely first choice starters for Gareth Southgate.

Few of the understudies delivered a command performance. The team laboured in the first half. Some 69 per cent of possession garnered little reward.

Ezri Konsa and Jarrod Bowen linked up well. Cole Palmer made some probing runs. Eberechi Eze roused the crowd with some scintillating runs, but they largely went nowhere.

Ollie Watkins, well marshalled by Bosnia’s back line, had just three touches. One was an early effort that drew a sharp save from Nikola Vasilj.

But beyond that, well, there was little cutting edge. Bosnia rarely looked troubled.

There was a party atmosphere at St James’ Park, welcoming England for the first time since 2005. The 50,000-strong crowd started in high spirits, but as half-time approached, it became quiet, their enthusiasm draining away.

England started the second half a little brighter but still they could not make their possession count. As it increasingly looked like the team’s winless run might extend to four games — a worrying trend that stretched back to November and began with a 1-1 draw against North Macedonia — they were delivered a lifeline.

During the melee at an England corner, Benjamin Tahirovic pulled Ezri Konsa’s shirt. Referee Rohit Saggi missed it initially, but changed his mind after being sent to the monitor by VAR. That the decision got the biggest cheer of the night to that point, spoke volumes.

Palmer, one of the night’s better performers, made no mistake from the spot, slotting neatly and with power into the bottom right. It was his first goal for England and his last touch of the night. He was one of five players substituted on the 60-minute mark.

The goal seemed to settle the home team’s nerves. If the first hour of the game had been characterised by some of the worst aspects of Southgate’s tenure as England boss, the last 30 minutes had flashes of some of the best.

Jack Grealish, who might have been worried by his omission from the initial team sheet, looked like a man with a point to prove in his brief cameo.

He provided the assist for Alexander-Arnold to grab England’s second and was involved in the build up to the third, scored by—who else? Harry Kane, another sub.

There is a danger with games like this, you can read too much into some performances, not enough into others.

Southgate now has the job of deciding which members of his 33-strong squad will make the final 26-man cast list for the main show.