David James
                                                       (Ian Walker 61)
 
  Gary Neville                         Jamie Carragher               Sol Campbell              Ashley Cole
  (Phil Neville 46)                    (Jermain Defoe 85)          (Ledley King 46)         (Wayne Bridge 46)


  David Beckham                    Paul Scholes             Frank Lampard                 Steven Gerrard
  (Kieron Dyer 46)                 (Nicky Butt 46)       (Owen Hargreaves 46)        (Joe Cole 46) 


                                              Wayne Rooney                 Michael Owen
                                             (Emile Heskey 46)            (Darius Vassell 46)
 

The team from Iceland was Arason, Ingimarsson, Marteinsson, Hreidarsson, T Gudjonsson, Gretarsson, J Gudgonsson, I Sigurdsson, Gudjohnsen, H Sigurdsson, Helgusson

 

England's first choice central defender John Terry pulled his hamstring in the 1-1 draw with Japan four days earlier and was not risked in this friendly game (his place was taken by Jamie Carragher). Paul Robinson deputised for David James in goal and England also reverted to a 4-4-2 formation for the match.

After four minutes of the match Paul Scholes volleyed an excellent chance over the bar from six yards after a cross from Gary Neville. Fifteen minutes later Frank Lampard headed a David Beckham corner wide when unmarked and in a good position.

After 24 minutes Lampard did get a goal. He received a pass from Scholes in midfield, went forward and struck a shot from well outside the penalty area - the goalkeeper Arason was deceived by a slight deflection off Hreidarsson and England were 1-0 up.
 

                                  
                         Wayne Rooney scores to the goalkeepers right to make it 2-0

Three minutes later England went 2-0 up when Gary Neville got past his marker on the right wing and passed from inside the penalty box back to Wayne Rooney who scored from eight yards out. Michael Owen then put the ball in the net after he ran onto a midfield pass from Scholes but he was judged to be offside. Soon afterwards Beckham fired a shot just wide.

After 37 minutes England did go 3-0 up - Lampard passed to Scholes who knocked the ball back to Rooney. With the best shot of the day, Rooney scored from 25 yards out as the ball went to the goalkeepers left and just inside the post.

Four minutes later Iceland replied to make it 3-1 after a corner was headed back across goal from beyond the far post by Hreidarsson - the ball was then flicked on to Heguson who headed in from three yards out.
 

There were nine England substitutions at half time but England kept the advantage and went 4-1 up after 56 minutes. A Phil Neville corner went to Owen Hargreaves and his shot from outside the penalty area was deflected into the net by Darius Vassell from six yards out with his back to goal. Just after that Joe Cole put a good chance wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
 

                                    
                                     Wayne Bridge gets his first goal for England

After 67 minutes Nicky Butt chipped the ball into the penalty area, Emile Heskey headed it into the path of Wayne Bridge (who was coming into the penalty area from the left wing) and he fired the ball in at the far post.

Vassell made the score 6-1 ten minutes later after getting the ball back from Heskey at the edge of the penalty area and curling it into the net to the goalkeepers right.
 

Who played well:  In the first half Wayne Rooney was impressive to get two good goals and Frank Lampard also had a good game. In the second half Darius Vassell linked up well with Emile Heskey and Wayne Bridge got his first England goal.
 

Who could have played better: Nicky Butt has had better games than this one and Joe Cole missed an easy chance to put England further ahead.

After the game it was announced that Beckham was to have an operation to have a cyst removed from his back but he should be fine for next weeks Euro 2004 match against France.