Here is the ratings of the performances by the England players against Malta. This was a game for fixing a spot in the upcoming Euro qualifiers of 2024.
England players performances:
Defenders:
JORDAN PICKFORD
Given ample time to flick through the profitability and sustainability rules, albeit with the odd panicked look up to watch a few too many Malta shots fly over his crossbar en route to a 28th clean sheet to take him past Ray Clemence and into outright fifth for England.
KIERAN TRIPPIER
Started on the right and moved to the left, which is very much Gareth Southgate’s international equivalent of having his cake and eating it. Trippier was absolutely fine. Moreover , he offered support on whichever flank he stationed. He went on defending diligently and finishing with marginally more touches than Newcastle have injuries.
HARRY MAGUIRE
Some really careless, scruffy and unnecessarily imprecise passes under no discernible pressure. It preceded the most earnest of thumbs up in apology each time. But the centre-half quite embarrassingly lost 7-9 to the game’s other 30 players combined in terms of aerial duels won. Shame.
MARC GUEHI
With not even a hint of sarcasm, Guehi’s front-foot defending to intercept a pass through the England lines in the opening minutes was a crucial moment considering the start the hosts made. The Crystal Palace defender was quietly imperious throughout.
FIKAYO TOMORI
Stood to gain nothing playing out of position against a direct and seemingly entirely underestimated opponent. Came out with studs being planted on top of his foot in each instance. But he received the yellow card the second time, which was probably not the only contributing factor towards his half-time substitution.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
A splendid showing, considering he was fouled a ludicrous amount of times in the opening 10 minutes or so. The 60-yard rakes were present and correct and Alexander-Arnold clearly enjoyed the added responsibility and influence as the central creative hub.
Midfielders:
JORDAN HENDERSON
Presumably phenomenal in the eyes of his manager but aside from one display of decent skill on the right touchline to play himself out of a tight spot, did absolutely nothing of note. However, by far the game’s best player in terms of xValues and xBeliefs.
CONOR GALLAGHER
A slack start in which he was hounded straight from a throw-in and surrendered possession to give Malta a chance after 30 seconds set a tone England hardly bothered to try and change for the subsequent 70 minutes.
Strikers:
PHIL FODEN
His touch for the first goal still looks slightly suspiciously unintentional to someone who would have caressed that Guehi ball into the stands. However, his immediate change of direction and burst of pace before the Kane-seeking pull-back suggests it was entirely deliberate.
HARRY KANE
He obviously picked up some awful habits in Germany. Because England’s brave boy would never have initiated contact and booked for diving before. Klinsmann’s clearly got to him and he’ll be backing into jumping defenders next. Still has zero proper England goals.
MARCUS RASHFORD
An absolute masterclass in how to run into players, most often the actual brick wall of a defender in Malta captain Steve ‘Si’ Borg. But also quite sub-optimally a sprinting Alexander-Arnold at one point. His confidence is short. However, this is perhaps fitting for the current worst finisher in the Premier League.
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