England Player Ratings: Assessing Individual Performances in the World Cup

England concluded their World Cup campaign with an exciting 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off. BBC Sport’s England reporter Alex Howell has provided an assessment of how each player fared throughout the tournament.

Goalkeepers

Por que importa

Jordan Pickford, the established number one, demonstrated his ability to perform on the big stage. However, this tournament was not his strongest, with some inconsistent moments. His performance in the semi-final loss to Argentina was notable, though he may reflect on Enzo Fernandez’s goal. Pickford received a rating of 6.

Dean Henderson, the second-choice goalkeeper, arrived at the tournament in good form. He started the bronze-medal match against France, making an excellent save against Kylian Mbappe but conceding three goals. Henderson was also rated 6.

Contexto

James Trafford, the third-choice goalkeeper, did not feature in any matches but gained valuable experience by travelling to the World Cup. His rating is N/A.

Defenders

Ezri Konsa was a consistent presence in every game, showcasing his quality for international football. He featured as a starting centre-back and also played at right-back during the quarter-final win over Norway. Konsa capped his tournament with a goal in the third-place play-off, earning a rating of 7.

John Stones’ inclusion was seen as a gamble by manager Thomas Tuchel due to fitness concerns. He started the opening game but experienced some shaky moments and was dropped for subsequent matches. However, he regrouped to start the quarter-final and semi-final. Despite showing his quality, he was caught under the ball for the winning goal against Argentina. Stones was rated 7.

Marc Guehi has been a consistent figure in England’s defence at major tournaments. He didn’t start the opening game against Croatia but impressed with his usual calmness and quality when he came into the side. Guehi delivered an excellent performance against Manchester City teammate Erling Haaland in the quarter-final and performed well until England’s exit. He received a rating of 8.

Trevoh Chalobah was called up as a replacement and his inclusion sparked debate, with concerns about England’s depth at full-back. He made his only appearance of the tournament as a late substitute in the win over France, receiving a rating of 5.

Jarell Quansah, a surprise pick for his first major tournament, impressed as a full-back option. He started well against Panama before an injury, and then similarly against Mexico before being sent off. Quansah returned for the third-place play-off and is seen to have a bright international future. He was rated 6.

Dan Burn’s inclusion was also debated, but his performance against Mexico supported the decision. Burn’s aerial ability provided England with a way to see out games, although the tactic was employed too early against Argentina. Burn received a rating of 6.5.

Nico O’Reilly, a 21-year-old, grew into his first tournament after a nervy start. Having only become England’s first-choice left-back in November, starting five of eight matches at the World Cup is a significant achievement. O’Reilly is strong on the ball but needs to improve defensively. He was rated 6.5.

Reece James, the first-choice right-back, missed three games due to a hamstring injury sustained against Ghana. He returned for the quarter-final and semi-final, displaying his quality. James was rated 6.5.

Djed Spence emerged as one of England’s breakout players. His versatility across both left-back and right-back positions proved invaluable. Spence is a strong one-on-one defender with pace that offers an outlet to the team. He delivered two of his best performances in the quarter-final and semi-final and also played well against France, winning a penalty. Spence received an 8.

Midfielders

Declan Rice battled with fitness issues throughout the tournament, playing through a hamstring problem and starting the quarter-final after illness. He imposed himself physically but was perhaps not at his best in possession. Rice captained the side in the third-place play-off, scoring an assist. He was rated 7.5.

Jude Bellingham was England’s talisman, elevating his game to another level. His importance to the team, both now and in the future, was evident. Bellingham possesses superstar quality and the mentality to match. He scored seven goals, including an excellent individual effort against France in the third-place play-off, setting a new record for an Englishman at a World Cup. Bellingham received the highest rating of 9.

Jordan Henderson’s tournament ended in unusual circumstances. He broke his arm after the win over Mexico and, despite staying with the squad post-surgery, was never a viable option to play. Henderson received a rating of 4.

Elliot Anderson was tasked with being England’s starting number six and performed well, starting every game except the third-place play-off. His best performance in possession was against Argentina, but for England to succeed in major tournaments, he needs to become a more dominant controller of the game. Anderson was rated 7.

Kobbie Mainoo was the only outfield player not to receive any minutes. The Football Association stated he missed the third-place play-off due to injury. His rating is N/A.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka, despite nursing an Achilles issue coming into the tournament, showed flashes of his quality. He admitted it was a “gamble” to play, and while unable to consistently perform at his top level, he scored a hat-trick in the third-place play-off against France. Saka was rated 7.5.

Morgan Rogers was a focus of attention and played in various positions behind the striker. He played a significant role in both the quarter-final and semi-final, notably providing an assist for Anthony Gordon. Rogers possesses quality and his physicality is a real asset. He received a rating of 7.5.

Anthony Gordon had a slow start to the tournament but grew into it, delivering some crucial moments. Following two assists in the win over DR Congo, he earned the penalty that led to the winning goal against Mexico. Gordon then provided an assist for the equalising goal in the match against Ecuador.

Key facts
| Player | Position | Rating | Key Contribution |
|—|—|—|—|
| Jude Bellingham | Midfielder | 9 | Record 7 goals for England at a World Cup |
| Marc Guehi | Defender | 8 | Consistent defensive performances |
| Djed Spence | Defender | 8 | Breakout player, versatile full-back |
| Bukayo Saka | Forward | 7.5 | Hat-trick in third-place play-off |
| Jordan Henderson | Midfielder | 4 | Tournament ended early due to injury |

The individual performances of England’s squad offer a valuable insight into the team’s campaign. While some players shone, others faced challenges with fitness or consistency. The assessments provide a basis for understanding the strengths and areas for development within the current England setup as they look ahead to future tournaments.

Source: BBC Sport Football – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2jljx84rwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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