ENGLAND PLAYER RATINGS: Which star went AWOL and who turned a shadow?
England failed to confirm top spot in Group C on Thursday after Gareth Southgate‘s side succumbed to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Denmark in Frankfurt.
Though the Three Lions stay top of the standings, a victory would have seen them seize a berth in the knockout stages of the tournament. It seems Southgate’s side still have a lot of work to do.
Harry Kane gave England the lead in the opening 20 minutes of the match, in what was a dream start for the Three Lions. Kyle Walker‘s deflected cross ricocheted off two Danish defenders before it fell to the England captain, who took great delight in tapping in his first goal at Euro 2024.
A lapse in concentration in defence would see England fail to shut down Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who fired a long-range effort past Jordan Pickford to pull a goal back for Kasper Hjulmand’s side before half-time.
In the second half, England struggled for creativity and were unable to find a winner, with Denmark, eager to press, giving Southgate’s side a few late scares. Mail Sport’s CRAIG HOPE delivers his player ratings from Deutsche Bank Park.
England were held to a 1-1 draw against Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday afternoon
Harry Kane (left) scored in the first 20 minutes of the match to give the Three Lions the lead
Morten Hjulmand (centre) equalised for Denmark with a long-range strike before half-time
ENGLAND (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford 6
Had to make lots of saves given how often Denmark were afforded the ball, but most of them were routine. Will maybe wonder if he could have got down to keep out Denmark’s goal from 25 yards, although it was a tremendous hit. He’s not to blame for this dismal showing.
Kyle Walker 6.5
Credit for his awareness in making the steal from a sleeping opponent before creating Kane’s goal with a deflected cross, but he did not get forward nowhere near as much as he should and can. He had a shaky start and needed a change of boots but, after that, he was decent defensively.
John Stones 6
We did not see any of the ball-playing ability he showcases for Manchester City, but that was because if he had stepped into midfield he would have been met with Rice and Alexander-Arnold on his toes! He was pinned in by own team and had to worry more about what was coming at him from those in red.
Jordan Pickford (pictured) had to make lots of saves as Denmark took control
Kyle Walker (pictured) proved pivotal in helping England get their opener
We did not see any of the ball-playing ability John Stones (left) showcases for Man City
Marc Guehi (right) recovered well to produce an excellent tackle to stop Alexander Bah (left)
Marc Guehi 6.5
He had done well for 83 minutes but then almost ruined a steady display with a slip to allow Bah to run clear. He recovered to make the tackle, but as much because the Denmark forward was too slow. He then lost his man from the resulting corner. Those moments apart, he can be satisfied. His best yet for England.
Kieran Trippier 7
England needed him with a couple of big interventions in the moments after Kane’s goal. He played most of the game without anyone in front of him either, given how much Foden vacated his position on the left. A solid showing on and off the ball and just about England’s best – even if that was the best of a bad bunch!
Declan Rice 4.5
He will not be happy by the manner in which he repeatedly lost the ball. At one point he blamed Bellingham for not offering an option, but Rice needs to look closer to home. By his standards, this was a very poor performance, and it looked like he knew it. Far too ponderous in possession and, unlike him, weak in the tackle.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (centre) midfield experiment doesn’t quite seem to be working
Declan Rice (pictured) had a poor performance by his standards and will not be happy with how often he lost the ball
Trent Alexander-Arnold 4
This must be the end of the midfield experiment. You can’t blame the player, he’s not a midfielder! He was hooked on 54 minutes after a performance in which he gave the ball away far too often and went AWOL as Denmark took control. His head was clearly gone after half-time and he should have been taken off during the break. This disaster is on the manager.
Bukayo Saka 5
Nowhere near the level of danger he posed against Serbia. He did not play badly, but nor did he do much good. With plenty of alternatives in wide areas, he has to do more to stay in the team. Like others, his energy in the press to disturb the Danes was not there. Subdued, and questions over peak fitness remain.
Jude Bellingham 4.5
From Roy of the Rovers to Doncaster Rovers, the man-of-the-match against Serbia was a shadow of himself against Denmark. He didn’t win his duels and was all too rarely on the ball. When he did have it, he held onto it for too long and did not get into the box like he did in the opener. He was fortunate not to be substituted, really.
Jude Bellingham (pictured) failed to follow-up his man of the match display against Serbia
Bukayo Saka (centre) lacked energy in the press and failed to show the same level of attacking threat he had displayed against Serbia
Phil Foden 6
Out of position on the left wing – again – and every time he impacted it was when drifting inside, at times even right of centre in midfield. He had good moments, two runs when he tried to make things happen but followed by poor finishes, and another when he cracked the post. But he cannot continue in a position he does not want to play, it’s detrimental to the team.
Harry Kane 4.5
Right place to pounce for his opener but then gifted possession to the Danes for their equaliser with baffling cross-field ball – he did not look where it was going. He dropped so deep but was unable to press opponents and became a passenger. He was rightly withdrawn when his impact had waned to zero and, like against Serbia, he did not look fully fit.
Phil Foden (centre) had good moments but again looked uncomfortable on the left wing
Despite his goal, Kane (pictured) underwhelmed and was brought off after half-time
Substitutes
Conor Gallagher (on for Alexander-Arnold, 54) 5.5
He was brought on to stiffen midfield after Alexander-Arnold calamity and immediately put himself about. His quality on the ball wasn’t there, but he should be left in the team to build confidence, if Southgate is not willing to drop Bellingham deeper.
Eberechi Eze (on for Foden 69) 5
The substitution did not work and he looked nervous. In fairness, he was coming into a mess of a performance and he struggled as a result. He may find himself behind others after this, though.
Jarrod Bowen (on for Saka 69) 5
Much like Eze, the West Ham man tried hard to impact but nothing came off. These are the chances the fringe players must take, and he did not on this occasion.
Conor Gallagher (front right) came on as a substitute for Alexander-Arnold but couldn’t change the game for England
Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins (pictured) would make his first Euro 2024 appearance, coming on for Kane
Gareth Southgate (left) had no answers, his substitutes didn’t work and he failed to learn from the errors his side made during their game vs Serbia
Ollie Watkins (on for Kane 69) 5.5
A plus in that, belatedly, he gave England an option to run in behind and stretch the Danes. He was positive in that respect but the one chance he got he did not take, firing into Schmeichel.
Manager – Gareth Southgate 4
Wasn’t this performance everything for which Southgate has been criticised? A team packed full of attacking talent taking the lead and then retreating so deep to invite pressure and an inevitable equaliser. He had no answers – his four changes did not work – and the manager best wear a crash helmet during the fallout from this horror show.
