If this was designed to be a glorious send-off for Southgate and his players before they head to Germany then this was a plan that went badly awry.
England can have no complaints about this embarrassing loss to the side ranked 72nd in the Fifa rankings and the loud jeers that greeted them at half-time and the final whistle were a fair reflection of a poor performance.
If Southgate was looking for any more clues to his Euro 2024 starting line-up here, then they were negative.
Palmer did show some bright touches, even though he missed a couple of second-half opportunities, and Anthony Gordon also impressed in flashes.
Elsewhere, Phil Foden could not flourish in the number 10 role and there was rarely a time when the Iceland goal was under sustained pressure – England had one shot on target.
Indeed, Iceland had chances to increase England’s pain in the second half but could not take them.
Of course, this game was all about preparation, looking at his squad and coming through unscathed before the serious business starts next week – but even so there is little good news about losing to international minnows such as Iceland at any time, especially at Wembley.
Iceland might even be starting to regard themselves as England’s bogey side after they dumped them out of Euro 2016 at the last-16 stage.
England’s players went on a lap of appreciation at the final whistle as a farewell before they go to the Euros – it was a measure of this limp and laboured effort that there was hardly anyone left inside Wembley to show any appreciation.
Southgate will hope this night knocked off a few elements of rust in England, but it was hardly the stuff to send them into Euro 2024 bursting with optimism.