ENGLAND produced another unconvincing performance – but still managed to top Group C.
England dominated possession but Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after a third consecutive game that lacked inspiration.
SunSport’s Tom Barclay has given his assessment of England’s players.
Jordan Pickford – 6
Mainly a spectator due to England’s dominance of the ball. Asked on the touchline what Denmark’s score was during one stoppage in the second half.
Kieran Trippier – 6
One positive side of the right-footed player playing left-back is that he can make sharp crosses, and Conor Gallagher should have sent one before the break.
Marc Guehi – 7
Cruyff’s early goal turn showed his confidence from excellent games against Serbia and Denmark, and the omission of one lost pass was again good.
John Stones – 6
One of the many who missed the mark with his passing. He was not bad, but, like others, far from what he did for his club.
Kyle Walker – 5
He played so safe, rarely looking ahead. I was lucky at one point that Pickford survived for his back pass strike. A notched cross after the break summed up his off night.
Conor Gallagher – 4
He was given the nod following the end of the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment, but was poor, particularly in possession, and was replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo.
Declan Rice – 7
He promised his team an “in your face” performance, but he was actually the only one who produced it. Very good from possession, much better than against Denmark.
Phil Foden – 7
England’s most lively striker four by a mile and went close with a free-kick. Penalized for dissent, summing up England’s frustration.
Jude Bellingham – 5
He was a very frustrating figure as he and Harry Kane occasionally got in each other’s way, while he was often turned left as Phil Foden moved into the middle.
Bukayo Saka – 6
The home team scored in the 20th minute, but it was ruled out due to the backfield in stoppage time. Okay, but transferred once again after the break, maybe due to fitness issues.
Harry Kane – 6
He insists he’s 100 percent fit, and maybe he is. What is 100 per cent certain is that he was nowhere near as effective in this tournament as he normally is for England, although he was marginally better here.
Substitutions
Kobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time) – 7
Made the difference when he came on, making England much more positive in the game. Much more confident with his touch than Gallagher.
Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka on 71) – 7
He finally appeared in this tournament and one wise ball for Mainoo showed what he can do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier on 84) – 6
He came on for the last few minutes at right back, while Walker went to left back.
Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden on 88) – 6
Like Palmer, the first minutes at the Euros, but too late to make an impact.
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Source: HIS Education