Gareth Southgate understands why fans booed his side after a dismal defeat to Iceland that the England manager hopes will "really focus the mind" heading into Euro 2024.
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An expectant Wembley crowd made their frustrations known after an alarmingly poor performance in their last warm-up friendly against a side that will not even be at the finals in Germany.
Southgate's side were toothless in attack and porous at the back, with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson's fine early finish securing Iceland another memorable win against England.
In 2016 that shock result ended their European Championship hopes, whereas the manager hopes Friday's 1-0 loss can act as a catalyst to continental glory.
"You'd like a good performance, a crowd that's been entertained and to be leaving on a high," Southgate said after the send-off friendly. "Clearly the performance wasn't at the level it needed to be.
"Look, a far from ideal night. I'm not going to dress up the disappointment about the performance.
"But, equally, we have to stay calm because we know what needs to be put right and we'll work on that between now and the game with Serbia."
Friday's friendly was supposed help build a feel-good factor heading into Euros, with the Group C opener against Serbia looming large on June 16.
Instead, it ended with bored fans aiming paper planes at the pitch and those left inside Wembley at the final whistle booing.
"I completely understand," Southgate said of the supporters' reaction. "We didn't play well enough to keep them excited within the game."
Germany, meanwhile, needed substitute Pascal Gross's 89th-minute goal to secure a 2-1 win over Greece a week before they open Euro 2024 against Scotland in Munich.
Georgios Masouras gave Greece the lead in the 34th on the rebound after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer failed to hold a shot from Christos Tzolis. Arsenal forward Kai Havertz levelled in the 56th when he shot on the turn and it went in off Manolis Siopis.
After Benjamin Henrichs sent a shot off the bar in the 83rd, Germany finally took the lead when Gross hit a fierce shot from outside the box.
Neuer's error came shortly after Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed he was cutting Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nubel as he finalised the 26-player squad for the tournament.
Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann are the two other goalkeepers in the squad.
Also Friday, Poland beat neighbours Ukraine 3-1 and Scotland drew 2-2 with Finland.
Romania failed to beat one of Europe's smallest nations, Liechtenstein, in a 0-0 draw. The Czech Republic cruised to a 7-1 win over Malta while Albania beat Azerbaijan 3-1.
with AP
Australian Associated Press
