{"id":672497,"date":"2026-07-16T15:06:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=672497"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:06:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:06:05","slug":"england-player-ratings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2026\/07\/16\/england-player-ratings\/","title":{"rendered":"England Player Ratings for the 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

England\u2019s World Cup 2026 campaign is over. The post-mortem will now take place, and we will start with England player ratings from their run to the semi-final.<\/span><\/p>\n

With questions over Thomas Tuchel\u2019s original selections<\/a>, leaving out names including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, to name a few, on the whole, those selected stepped up, performed, and can be proud of how far they progressed in the tournament. The disappointment and ultimate failure lie with the manager, his defensive tactics in the semi-final, and his delayed response.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at England’s player ratings from the 2026 World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/span>Thomas Tuchel Ensures Football Won\u2019t Come Home For England<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

England Player Ratings from the 2026 World Cup<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Goalkeepers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Jordan Pickford – 7\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

There\u2019s only one man who featured in goal, and that man is Jordan Pickford. He performed well, and despite conceding two against Argentina in the semi-final, fans must remember that he kept the score as low as it was. Keeping clean sheets against Ghana and Panama was to be expected.<\/span><\/p>\n

His tournament highlight is, without a doubt, the Mexico quarter-final. Although he conceded two, one of which came from a penalty, he was the man of the moment. Making three saves, being confident in coming to claim the ball, and dispersing pressure with high ball claims, he helped see a 10-man England over the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

England Player Ratings: Wide Defenders<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Djed Spence 6\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Eyebrows were raised when Tottenham\u2019s Djed Spence was selected, but there\u2019s little doubt that he was of great value to Tuchel. Being able to operate on either the left or right, Spence was an important weapon. The DR Congo game was one to forget; however, his performance against Argentina has been overshadowed by the disappointing result. He progressed the ball well, was solid in defence, and was a threat going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nico O\u2019Reilly 7\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

After a fantastic season with Manchester City, Nico O\u2019Reilly was a guaranteed starter for England. The 21-year-old performed well against Panama and Norway but struggled in Mexico. Despite being inexperienced at international level, he didn\u2019t let it deter him, rose to the occasion when it mattered, and, assuming he continues to feature for City, has all but locked down the left-back position.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reece James 4\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

A wholly unimpressive tournament for Reece James. A dismal display against Croatia, followed by a solid 90 minutes against an unambitious Ghana side, saw him suffer yet another injury, keeping him out for two games. He offered some much-needed calm to proceedings against Norway; however, he appeared to be drawn into the game itself against Argentina, giving away fouls and playing the moment, rather than the situation itself. He was subbed off at 82 minutes with another suspected injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jarrell Quansah 2\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Jarrell Quansah had a tournament to forget, to say the least. A solid performance against Panama can\u2019t overshadow the Mexico performance. Like James, he played the moment, not the game itself. A horrific attempt at a tackle saw him sent off after just 54 minutes, plunging England into a difficult situation. It\u2019s worth noting that he was being played out of position; however, a tackle like that is inexcusable. Likely the lowest on our list of England player ratings.<\/span><\/p>\n

England Player Ratings: <\/strong>Centre Backs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Marc Guehi 6\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

A very average tournament for Marc Guehi sees him score a 6\/10 on our list of England player ratings for the World Cup. He didn\u2019t do anything particularly special aside from an excellent showing against Ghana. He was solid against Panama and DR Congo, but when it came to the later knockout games, he was average. Not match-winning, not match-costing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ezri Konsa 7\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

An up-and-down tournament for Ezri Konsa, who had several above-average performances throughout. Starting alongside John Stones against Croatia, he had a rocky start; however, he rallied to impress across the next three games. He was fatigued against Mexico, which saw a lacklustre performance; however, he bounced back against Norway and kept Erling Haaland quiet. <\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s the face of the problem against Argentina as he was brought on to replace Anthony Gordon and epitomised the defensive outlook on the game after just 72 minutes. It\u2019s worth noting that this isn\u2019t a slight on his individual performance but rather on the manager\u2019s tactics. Allowing Lautaro Martinez a free header in the box to score the goal that would knock England out is inexcusable, however.<\/span><\/p>\n

John Stones 7\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

After rarely featuring for Manchester City this season, Stones was thrust into the starting XI for the first group game. Conceding two goals and not impressing saw him dropped for the next four games. Against Mexico, he came on to replace Quansah and added much-needed experience and calm (and a match-winning tackle) to the game. He kept former teammate Erling Haaland quiet against Norway, but, like Konsa, allowing Martinez a free header in between centre-backs shouldn\u2019t be overlooked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dan Burn 4\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Dan Burn offered somewhat unexpected comic relief during the World Cup. His 15-minute cameo against Mexico is remembered for a big header. Another big clearance against Norway made him into somewhat of a cult hero. Sticking him on against Argentina saw England concede two goals and use him as an attacking outlet\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

England Player Ratings: <\/strong>Central Midfielders<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Jude Bellingham 9\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2018Who else?\u2019 Jude Bellingham turned up for England and single-handedly dragged them through games. The Real Madrid man bagged six goals and an assist on his way to the semi-final, gave everything for the team, and, more importantly, believed in the dream. He optimised England’s spirit against Mexico, scoring twice and dragging England to the final whistle. Against Norway, he fronted up, again scoring a brace and getting England into the semi-final. He fronted up to the media throughout the tournament, took the pressure on his shoulders, and silenced any doubters. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that without Bellingham, England wouldn\u2019t have made it as far as they did. At just 23, if you didn\u2019t already know, the future is bright for Bellingham. The highest scorer on our list of England player ratings for 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Declan Rice 8\/10\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Declan Rice carried his fine form for Arsenal into the US with a number of solid, reliable performances. His only dip in form came against Norway when he was clearly not fit after suffering from a sickness bug. He often goes under the radar when playing alongside the likes of Bellingham and Harry Kane; however, he does the basics phenomenally, drove England up the pitch, and marshals the midfield well. Another solid tournament for the 27-year-old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elliott Anderson 8\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Like Rice, Elliott Anderson carried his solid club form into the World Cup. After the announcement that he had signed for Manchester City during the tournament, you could forgive him for taking his eye off the ball; however, this wasn\u2019t the case. He played the vast majority of minutes during every game and was vital in breaking up play, being relentless in his pursuit of gaining possession back, and allowing those around him to play their natural game. A solid first tournament for England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eberechi Eze 5\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s Eberechi Eze struggled for minutes throughout the tournament and was brought on by Tuchel to help see games out, rather than to make a lasting impact. Cameos against Ghana, Panama, and DR Congo, and 74 minutes against Norway, saw no real highlights.<\/span><\/p>\n

Morgan Rogers 5\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Like Eze, Morgan Rogers struggled for minutes, despite many believing that he deserved a place in the starting XI ahead of Jude Bellingham. Appearances off the bench came more often for the Aston Villa man; however, a starting spot against Argentina was his highlight. He provided the assist for Anthony Gordon with a well-whipped cross, but aside from that, a forgettable first tournament for Rogers.<\/span><\/p>\n

England Player Ratings: <\/strong>Forwards<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Anthony Gordon 8\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

After a slow start, Barcelona\u2019s new man, Anthony Gordon, grew into the tournament during the knockout stages. Coming off the bench against DR Congo, Gordon made the difference, provided two assists, and helped England win the game. <\/span><\/p>\n

His tireless effort against Mexico saw him win the ball back ahead of the second goal, as well as winning the penalty for the third. An assist against Norway capped off an impressive effort, and the goal against Argentina was nothing but deserved after a tough first half. When he was dragged by Tuchel, it all went wrong as any counter-attacking threat dissipated. He\u2019ll likely continue to feature in the starting England XI, especially after his big summer move to Barcelona.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marcus Rashford 4\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Speaking of players who have played on the wing for Barcelona recently, Marcus Rashford had a disappointing tournament by his standards. Coming off the bench against Croatia, he notched a goal, but a 90-minute stint against a Ghanaian low block didn\u2019t suit his style. An hour against DR Congo saw his last meaningful minutes, and he\u2019ll return home a little disappointed not to see more game time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Noni Madueke 6\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Noni Madueke arguably saw more minutes than even he expected during England\u2019s World Cup campaign. He impressed against Croatia and DR Congo and had average games against Ghana and Panama. His speed on the break was useful, but his end product wasn\u2019t sufficient in feeding Harry Kane. A poor showing against Norway saw him subbed at half-time, and he wouldn\u2019t feature against Argentina.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bukayo Saka 7\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

An injury struck tournament for Bukayo Saka saw him not complete 90 minutes, something he hasn\u2019t done for club or country since mid-May. With three assists and only three starts, it\u2019s safe to say Saka wasn\u2019t at his sparkling best. Solid performances against Mexico and Norway weren\u2019t enough to see him feature against Argentina, despite his pace on the break potentially being useful. In the games that he did feature in, he played well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harry Kane 8\/10<\/b><\/p>\n

Harry Kane\u2019s goalscoring form is inevitable. With 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season, he carried his form into the World Cup. The England captain picked up six goals and an assist on the way to leading England to a semi-final exit; however, his performances against both Norway and Argentina were somewhat lacklustre, as well as giving away a penalty against Mexico.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/span>Inside Harry Kane\u2019s 500 goals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

At 32, there\u2019s a good chance that we have seen Harry Kane\u2019s last performance at a World Cup, and he can be proud of the performances that he\u2019s put in. His boots are going to be huge to fill, and it\u2019s up to Thomas Tuchel to find a diamond in the rough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Players who didn\u2019t play enough to feature in our list of England Player Ratings: James Trafford, Dean Henderson, Trevor Chalobah, Kobbie Mainoo, Ivan Toney, and Ollie Watkins.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

England\u2019s World Cup 2026 campaign is over. The post-mortem will now take place, and we will start with England player ratings from their run to the semi-final. With questions over Thomas Tuchel\u2019s original selections, leaving out names including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, to name a few, on the whole, those selected stepped […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5755,"featured_media":671489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[161,30,2132],"tags":[798,32736,4245,32867],"class_list":["post-672497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international-football","category-news","category-world-cup","tag-2026-world-cup","tag-england","tag-england-squad","tag-fifa-world-cup"],"modified_by":"Barry Dixon, LWOF Site Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5755"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=672497"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":672518,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672497\/revisions\/672518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/671489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=672497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=672497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=672497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}