Roy Hodgson’s men gave a rather muted performance in a 1-0 loss to Chile at Wembley Stadium. Here are the fanatix player ratings for the Three Lions.
Fraser Forster: 7/10
Could do little about either goal thanks to a wayward defence, and made a couple of decent saves. Joe Hart will return against Germany, but Forster deserves more consideration.
Glen Johnson: 6/10
Glen Johnson was always an available outlet on the England right, but was often forced back by the Chile attack.
Phil Jones: 5/10
Phil Jones claims his best position is centre back, but after his performance against Arsenal we’re pretty sure it’s defensive midfield. He did not play like a natural defender, and was substituted.
Gary Cahill: 4/10
Gary Cahill was the senior player in England’s defensive partnership, but played like a novice, earning a booking with a frustrated tackle and passing the ball across his own area for the second Chile goal.
Having won the UEFA Champions League as part of a miserly Chelsea back line, it was a rather out of character performance.
Leighton Baines: 6/10
As ever, decent going forward, but Baines was bamboozled by Chile’s movement at the back, and lost Alexis Sanchez for the game’s only goal.
A 5’5″ player shouldn’t be winning headers in the box, and the Everton man didn’t help his cause to start ahead of Ashley Cole in the big games.
Jack Wilshere: 7/10
Jack Wilshere was the one player willing to drive at the Chile side and break through the lines.
He also showed typical bite in the tackle, but Arsenal fans have grown accustomed to drawing in quick breaths as he delays releasing the ball, and ends up on the receiving end of potentially dangerous tackles.
Still, England’s leading light until he was substituted.
Frank Lampard: 5/10
Frank Lampard received his 100th cap against Chile at Wembley Stadium, but played like he was 100 years old in the first half particularly, with the visitors’ relentless pressing catching him out.
James Milner: 6/10
James Milner tried really hard. He always does.
Dare we suggest Milner might have been better on the right flank, with Adam Lallana deployed in his usual central role?
Milner provided a brilliant cross from that position, and might also have harried the Chilean defence, which didn’t always seem the most solid.
Jay Rodriguez: 5/10
Jay Rodriguez was the Southampton player deployed in his natural role on the left, but the step up to international football was a tricky one, and he didn’t have quite as brilliant an England debut as his injured club team-mate Rickie Lambert.
Adam Lallana: 7/10
The most important thing in international football is to stand out, and Adam Lallana’s intelligent positioning and runs meant he was regularly found by team-mates in dangerous positions.
He didn’t manage to find the requisite quality in the final third, and spurned a chance to score a goal on his debut, but could be a useful option for Roy Hodgson.
Wayne Rooney: 6/10
Wayne Rooney couldn’t be faulted for effort, but was clearly frustrated with the lack of service, and attempted to do a bit too much on his own.
We wanted to see his partnership with Daniel Sturridge. Maybe we will against Germany.
Substitutes:
Chris Smalling: 7/10
Booked for being headbutted, which earns him an extra mark. Looked more solid than either Jones or Cahill.
Andros Townsend: 6/10
Tried hard, but couldn’t find the magic from his previous England performances.
Jermain Defoe: 6/10
Brought pace to the England team, but was rarely given a chance.
Jordan Henderson: 6/10
Ran around a lot.
Tom Cleverley: 6/10
Passed the ball sideways.
Ross Barkley: 5/10
Out of match practice after being dropped for Everton, and offered more physique than guile.
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