nigeriasport.ng

England Player Ratings After World Cup Semi-Final Loss to Argentina

The Three Lions faced heartbreak again as they fell to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night. England held the lead late into the match but couldn't hold off Argentina’s surge, with the world champions completing a comeback in Atlanta.

Individual Player Performances

  • Jordan Pickford – 7: Some might question his role in Argentina’s equalizer, but the strike by Enzo Fernandez was well-placed through a crowd of players. Pickford made a crucial low save earlier from Nico Gonzalez that kept England ahead for a while.
  • Reece James – 6: Played solidly without showing the attacking spark he’s capable of. Defensively sound and not beaten one-on-one before being substituted.
  • John Stones – 6: Chosen for his experience, he helped England manage intense pressure. Delivered a key clearing header but may have been too loose marking Lautaro Martinez for the winning goal.
  • Marc Guehi – 6: Mostly calm under pressure but struggled when England dropped deep defensively.
  • Djed Spence – 8: England’s standout player. Created chances with confident dribbling, including two nutmegs, and executed a remarkable recovery tackle on Simeone. He leaves this tournament with plenty of praise.
  • Elliot Anderson – 7: Active from the start, Anderson was often challenged physically by Argentina’s aggressive style. Tasked with marking Messi and earned a caution for a tough tackle. Steady throughout the summer.
  • Declan Rice – 6: Showed his usual energy but seemed below his best this tournament. A lengthy rest might be needed after this campaign.
  • Morgan Rogers – 6: Came and went from the action but produced a fantastic cross assisting Gordon’s goal. England should have involved him more.
  • Jude Bellingham – 6: Stayed composed despite clear efforts by opponents to provoke him. Has been excellent all tournament but couldn’t influence this game as hoped due to England’s defensive posture after taking the lead.
  • Anthony Gordon – 7: Scored confidently and led England’s pressing high up the pitch. Linked well with Djed Spence at times.
  • Harry Kane – 6: Struggled to find his rhythm, often dropping deep which diminished England’s attacking threat. Did not record a single touch inside Argentina’s penalty area.

Substitutes

  • Ezri Konsa – 6: Introduced to help defend but could do little as Argentina pressed hard.
  • Nico O’Reilly – 6: Added energy in midfield but England were mostly on the back foot. Deserves rest after a long season.
  • Dan Burn – 6: Brought on to bolster defense but ended up playing more forward than expected, a contrast to his previous heroics in Mexico.
  • Ivan Toney – N/A: Only got brief minutes, too little time to make an impact.
  • Marcus Rashford – N/A: Another gamble as England chased the game; managed one bright run.

Related Articles