England Player Ratings vs Spain

Unfortunately, it felt like little more than a footnote in a weekend dominated by the news that Man City had been found guilty on 114 of 115 of their charges (you win some, you lose a lot).  This has the potential to completely reshape the fortunes of the Premier League.  Italian football still hasn’t properly recovered from the Calciopoli and Calcioscommesse scandals.  The players delivered despite all the hubbub, with Spain triumphing 3-2 in a smashing end-to-end contest.  Here are my rankings for the English side. 

GK: James Trafford- 5/10

I feel a bit sorry for Trafford.  It’s not very often that Pickford is given a night off and Trafford just so happened to get his chance against the reigning world champs.  Did very well to deny Ferran Torres in a 1v1 situation but could do very little about the goals.  England conceded three goals and Trafford is unfortunately guilty by association. 

RB: Jarrell Quansah- 6/10

For the most part, Quansah looked quite comfortable on that right-hand side (aka, the non-Yamal flank).  Looked to get forward when possible but was part of a dysfunctional defensive unit in that 2^nd stanza.  I still don’t understand why Trent can’t get a look in.  Tuchel said that he wanted a right-back who could tuck in and defend in a back-three when Guehi moved forward.  But why can’t Alexander Arnold be the guy who inverts?  He is possibly the best ball-playing fullback that England has ever produced.  Trent is easily Tuchel’s most glaring blind spot (and that’s saying something). 

CB: Marc Guehi- 4/10

You don’t want to be going and giving Lamine Yamal too many freebies.  And that’s exactly what Marc Guehi did within two minutes of kick-off, clumsily surrendering possession to leave England chasing the game.  It was an uncharacteristic error from someone who has looked rock-solid for City this season.  One wonders if the entire City melodrama was weighing on his mind. 

CB: Ezri Konsa- 5/10

Konsa looked by the more dependable of the centre-halves (though that isn’t saying much).  Still, the entire defensive line just got worse as the game progressed and Konsa was no exception. 

LB: Nico O’Reily- 5/10

Saturday’s match gave you the entire Nico O’Reily experience.   He was dynamic going forward, picking up an assist when his cross was met by Harry Kane’s diving header.  But he was culpable for Spain’s 2^nd goal and often out of position.  Tuchel’s anti-Trent agenda looks even more befuddling when he continually plays O’Reilly at left-back. 

CM: Elliot Anderson- 6/10

Anderson was the most focused of the Manchester City contingent on Saturday night, relentlessly patrolling a frantic midfield area.  He progressed the ball quite nicely and held his own in that first half.  Became more peripheral as Spain’s fanatical devotion to possession took its toll. 

CM: Myles Lewis-Skelly- 6.5/10

You wouldn’t have thought that Saturday was Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first start for England in the heart of midfield.  He exuded composure in what could have been a nightmare midfield battle against the metronomic Spanish midfield.  From a club perspective, it was the type of tireless performance that may compel Arteta to bench Guimares next time out. 

AM: Jude Bellingham- 8/10

I don’t think that it’s possible for Jude Bellingham to have a quiet game for England.  This could have been a dour 0-0 draw, with zero shots on target, and I probably would have given him a 7.  The Real Madrid superstar was at the centre of everything, assisting Gordon for the equaliser before earning the 2^nd half penalty that Kane squandered.  Could easily have levelled matters in the dying stages of the match.  England’s most consistent player. 

LW: Anthony Gordon- 8/10

One offshoot of festering club rivalry is that English football supporters often struggle to latch onto specific players.  Certain sections of the fandom won’t relate to this one or that one because they hate his club, etc.  Anthony Gordon seems to be one of the few English players who rises above these parochial kneejerk reactions.  Gordon was irrepressible on Saturday night, providing a constant outlet while taking the equalizer with aplomb. 

RW: Bukayo Saka- 5/10

Saka’s form- for club and country- is starting to get a bit worrying.  He has stat padded for Arsenal this season, netting three league goals while looking largely ineffectual.  And he once again lacked killer instinct on Saturday night, often making the wrong choice when he got himself in good positions.  Made Cucurella spin a few times but lacked conviction.  He really could have done with a siesta during this international break. 

STR: Harry Kane- 6/10

Captain Fantastic invariably found himself on the scoresheet on Saturday night, expertly diving to meet O’Reilly’s cross.  The header awkwardly deflected off Cucurella and into the goal.  I thought it was an OG for sure, but the attempt was apparently on target.  Where’s the Dubious Goals Committee when you need them, hey?  He then had a moment that would have sent John Terry scurrying behind the sofa, slipping during his penalty attempt while leading 2-1.  The ball crashed into the crossbar and England never really recovered. 

Subs

James Garner: 69^th minute for Lewis-Skelly- 5/10

Never brought much to the table (thought it was hard given Spain’s ascendancy).  Had one great run that was rendered obsolete by an ineffectual cross. 

Morgan Rogers: 69^th minute for Gordon- 4/10

Offered little to nothing as England’s counterattacking threat diminished. 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 83^rd minute for Kane- n/a

Morgan Gibbs-White: ,83^rd minute for Saka- n/a

Jarrad Branthwaite: 89^th minute for Guehi- n/a