England got their first win in the Nations League as Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane scored to beat the Czech Republic 2-0. BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell has rated the players, and the verdict is mostly kind but not generous.
The Ratings Breakdown
Here is how each starter fared, in the order they appeared in the match:
- James Trafford: 6 — made a good save in the second half, showed calm under pressure and impressed Tuchel with his passing.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7 — started his first England game for nearly two years, not much to do defensively but put in a great ball for the opener.
- Trevoh Chalobah: 6 — a shaky start, losing possession a couple of times and losing out in challenges, but settled to keep a clean sheet against 10-man Czech Republic.
- Marc Guehi: 6 — the usual reliable performance, putting in a couple of important blocks.
- Lewis Hall: 7 — combined well with Gordon, offered a good outlet and was a threat going forward, though he should have scored in the second half.
- Elliot Anderson: 7 — dominated the midfield, kept the ball ticking and won possession back when the Czech Republic ventured forward.
- Myles Lewis-Skelly: 6 — started well, given a lot of responsibility in build-up play, but was booked for a mis-timed tackle and taken off at half-time.
- Morgan Rogers: 6 — played Saka through early with a nice pass and hit the post twice, not given much room by a deep Czech defence.
- Bukayo Saka: 6 — not much of note in a cagey match, England laboured when breaking down the Czech defence before Gordon’s goal.
- Anthony Gordon: 8 — a constant threat in behind and put in a dangerous cross in the first half that deserved a goal, scored the opener and continues to show why he is becoming so important.
- Harry Kane: 7 — a quieter night, dropping deep and going looking for the ball, but got on the score sheet with a good finish inside the area in the second half.
The substitutes were all marked at 6:
- Eberechi Eze: added a spark to midfield after coming on for Lewis-Skelly at half-time.
- Jude Bellingham: took the captain’s armband and led the line after replacing Kane.
- Alex Scott: made his England debut after coming on for Anderson.
- Rio Ngumoha: his first thought was to go forward after coming on for Saka.
What This Tells Us
The most striking result is Gordon’s 8, which stands out as the highest mark on the board. Howell’s note explains why: “A constant threat in behind and put in a dangerous cross in the first half that deserved to end up with a goal. Scored the opener and continues to show why he is becoming so important for the Three Lions.”
Kane’s 7 is also notable. Howell describes him as having “a quieter night” who “dropped deep and went looking for the ball,” yet still managed a good finish for his goal. The captain’s rating suggests he was less effective than usual but still effective enough to matter.
The midfield pairing of Anderson and Lewis-Skelly drew contrasting verdicts. Anderson got a 7 for dominating the middle, while Lewis-Skelly got a 6 after being booked and sent off at half-time. The contrast reflects what Howell described: Anderson kept the ball ticking and won possession back, while Lewis-Skelly’s mis-timed tackle cost him a booking and ended his night.
The Match in Context
The Czech Republic finished the match with 10 men, which explains why England kept a clean sheet despite some defensive jitters. Chalobah’s shaky start was frustrating for manager Thomas Tuchel, but he settled to see the game out.
Rogers hit the post twice, which means England missed out on at least one goal. Saka was quiet, marking 6 for a cagey match where England struggled to break down the Czech defence before Gordon’s goal.
What Comes Next
England have their first win. The ratings suggest they know exactly who delivered it.
| Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon | Winger | 8 |
| Kane | Striker | 7 |
| Anderson | Midfielder | 7 |
| Lewis-Skelly | Midfielder | 6 |
| Rogers | Midfielder | 6 |
| Saka | Winger | 6 |
Gordon is the man to watch, Kane is still the captain, and the rest of the squad is settling in.
Source material: “Who continues to show how important they are? England player ratings,” the BBC.
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