England wrapped up their World Cup run by absolutely schooling France 6-4 in an insane third-place play-off. BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell has laid out the ratings for how the Three Lions’ squad performed, and while the tournament ended on a high note, there were definitely some wild rides for these players along the way.
The Backline Report Card
England’s defensive unit was a roller coaster. Marc Guehi was an absolute rock, earning an 8 rating and showing his usual calmness. He put in an excellent performance against Erling Haaland in the quarter-final win over Norway. Ezri Konsa, rated a 7, featured in every game and even bagged a goal in the third-place play-off, proving his international quality.
The real showstopper? Djed Spence. Called one of England’s breakout players, his valuable ability to play both left-back and right-back, plus being a beast one-v-one, makes him a huge asset. Nico O’Reilly, 21 and rated 6.5, grew into his first tournament, starting five of eight matches after only becoming first-choice left-back in November. He’s solid on the ball, but his defense needs work. Dan Burn, a debated inclusion at 6.5, proved his aerial prowess against Mexico, though Tuchel perhaps used that tactic too early against Argentina.
Not everything clicked. John Stones, also a 7, was a gamble due to fitness issues. He had shaky moments early, was benched, but regrouped for the quarter-final and semi-final. Getting caught under the ball for Lautaro Martinez’s winner had to sting. Reece James, the first-choice right-back, missed three games with a hamstring injury against Ghana before recovering to show his quality. Jarell Quansah, a surprise pick at 6, showed flashes but got injured against Panama and was sent off against Mexico. And Trevoh Chalobah, a debated call-up, only saw limited minutes in the win over France, earning a 5.
Keeper Questions and Tuchel’s Touch
Between the posts, Jordan Pickford, rated a 6, proved he can handle the big stage, but this wasn’t his sharpest tournament. He had some erratic moments and will definitely be questioning himself over Enzo Fernandez’s goal in that semi-final loss to Argentina. Dean Henderson, England’s second choice, came in hot and made an excellent save against Kylian Mbappe in the bronze-medal match but still ended up conceding three goals. James Trafford didn’t even see the pitch, but hey, World Cup experience is still experience, right?
Tuchel’s decisions sparked some chatter, too. That gamble on Stones with his fitness issues, for example. These are the calls that can define a tournament.
So, what’s the takeaway as these players head back to their clubs after such an eventful World Cup? Guys like Spence, Guehi, and Konsa just boosted their stock massively, showing they can perform under insane pressure. For others, it’s a chance to learn from the tough moments and come back stronger. The future of England’s backline, especially with breakout talent like Spence, looks absolutely electric.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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