But as well as presenting a final chance for the squad’s fringe players to stake their case for Euro 2024, the two opponents have been selected for a very specific reason.
Kieran Trippier will captain England against Bosnia-Herzegovina
That is because England traditionally pick their pre-tournament friendlies with one eye on what will follow that summer. Specifically, the Three Lions’ friendly opponents will be neighbours (or thereabouts) of teams they are about to face in the upcoming tournament.
Monday’s opponents Bosnia & Herzegovina share a border with Serbia, who England take on in their Euro 2024 opener on June 16.
While Iceland obviously doesn’t share any land borders with any other state, England play Denmark in their second Group C, which is why they are Friday’s opponents.
England face Denmark at Euro 2024 (Image credit: Lars Ronbog / FrontZoneSport via Getty Images)
Going back to Euro 2020, England warmed up with friendlies against Austria and Romania, who are in the vicinity of their group stage opponents Czech Republic and Croatia.
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It’s also the same in World Cup years. The scheduling of the winter World Cup in 2022 meant no pre-tournament friendlies were played, but 2018 saw England warm up for their group-stage matches against Tunisia and Panama with friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica.
So the scheduling of England’s two friendlies this week is no coincidence, with Southgate no doubt hoping that his side will be able to learn something about the footballing cultures of this summer’s Euro 2024 opponents in the coming days.
For more than a decade Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor, with stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others. He is the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team.
