England Player Ratings After Semi-Final Loss to Argentina in World Cup
England's World Cup hopes were dashed again after a late comeback by Argentina overturned the Three Lions' lead in Atlanta. Despite standing strong for much of the match, England could not hold off the world champions' relentless pressure in the closing stages.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford – 7: The Everton goalkeeper made several important saves, including a crucial low stop from Nico Gonzalez that kept England ahead for a time. Some may question his positioning on Enzo Fernandez's equaliser, but it was a powerful strike that slipped through defenders.
Defenders
- Reece James – 6: Delivered a reliable defensive performance without adding the creative spark expected from him. Maintained solid positioning and was not beaten before being substituted.
- John Stones – 6: Started for his experience and helped England manage periods of intense pressure. A vital clearing header eased danger at one point, though some might argue he could have marked Lautaro Martinez more tightly for Argentina’s winner.
- Marc Guehi – 6: Mostly composed but faced tough moments when England dropped deep into their defensive shell.
- Djed Spence – 8: Clearly England's standout player. Provided attacking thrust with skillful dribbling and nutmegs, twice cutting past defenders. His recovery tackle on Simeone was exceptional. He emerges from this tournament with significant praise.
Midfielders
- Elliot Anderson – 7: Involved from the start, often fouled due to Argentina’s aggressive tactics. Assigned to contain Lionel Messi, he earned a caution for a firm challenge on the veteran star. Consistently solid throughout the summer.
- Declan Rice – 6: Brought energy as usual but seemed slightly off his peak form. Could benefit from some rest after a long campaign.
- Morgan Rogers – 6: Had moments of influence, particularly a brilliant cross that set up Anthony Gordon’s goal. England might have needed to involve him more.
- Jude Bellingham – 6: Stayed composed despite clear efforts by opponents to unsettle him. Although excellent in the tournament overall, he struggled to make a decisive impact here, partly due to England retreating after taking the lead.
Forwards
- Anthony Gordon – 7: Scored confidently and led England’s pressing well. Connected effectively with Djed Spence during attacks.
- Harry Kane – 6: Found it difficult to influence the game as desired. He dropped deep seeking the ball, which reduced England’s threat up front. Notably, he did not register a single touch inside Argentina’s penalty area.
Substitutes
- Ezri Konsa – 6: Came on as England tried to protect their lead but faced a relentless Argentine attack.
- Nico O’Reilly – 6: Added energy to midfield late in the game, although England had little momentum going forward at that stage. Also likely in need of rest after an intense season.
- Dan Burn – 6: Brought on to reinforce defense but ended up pushing forward at times. This role probably wasn’t what coach Tuchel envisioned following Burn’s earlier heroics in the tournament.
- Ivan Toney – N/A: Only saw brief minutes; too little time to influence the match.
- Marcus Rashford – N/A: Brought on as a last attempt to find an equaliser, producing one bright run but unable to change the outcome.
