England’s latest World Cup campaign has ended short of the final, prompting a detailed assessment of manager Thomas Tuchel and his 26-man squad.
Tuchel receives a rating of 5.5 for his tenure at the tournament. A chaotic ten-goal match against France offered only brief relief from mounting pressure.
After pledging to build a side capable of challenging the world’s elite, Tuchel oversaw a late collapse against Argentina through a series of puzzling substitutions. Apart from spells against Croatia and the opening half versus France, the promised high-energy attack rarely materialised.
Jordan Pickford earns 6.5 in what may be his final World Cup. He produced key saves against Mexico but was at fault for a near-post goal conceded to DR Congo.
Dean Henderson scored 6 after a debut in the third-place play-off, making early stops before France’s second-half surge. James Trafford went unused and is rated N/A.
Reece James managed a 6, impressing off the bench against Norway but hampered by injuries that limited his availability. Djed Spence earned 7, growing into the tournament with strong showings against Argentina and France.
Nico O’Reilly rated 6, offering little attacking threat on the left. John Stones scored 6.5, dropped early before steadying against Mexico and neutralising Haaland in the quarter-finals.
Marc Guehi earned 7 as England’s most consistent defender after a cautious start. Ezri Konsa also scored 7, valued for versatility across the back line.
Dan Burn received 6 for reliable cameos, while Jarell Quansah scored 4, remembered for a red card at the Azteca. Trevoh Chalobah rated 3 after minimal minutes.
Declan Rice scored 6, undermined by illness and fatigue yet contributing against France. Elliot Anderson stood out with an 8, pressing relentlessly across altitude and heat.
Eberechi Eze managed 6 with limited impact, and Morgan Rogers scored 6.5 as a influential substitute. Jude Bellingham earned 9.5, scoring seven tournament goals and driving England with match-winning performances.
Jordan Henderson rated 3 after a freak injury ended his involvement. Kobbie Mainoo went unused due to injury and is marked N/A.
Bukayo Saka scored 6.5, managing fitness issues before a hat-trick in the bronze final. Noni Madueke rated 5, wasteful despite occasional bright moments.
Anthony Gordon earned 7.5, evolving into a key contributor with assists and a semi-final goal. Marcus Rashford scored 5.5, fading as Gordon rose in the pecking order.
Harry Kane rated 8.5 as the nation’s all-time World Cup top scorer with six goals. Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins each scored 4, seeing little meaningful action.
