England player ratings vs Slovenia: More of the same rubbish! Jude Bellingham lacks bite while Conor Gallagher shows he isn’t the midfield answer as Three Lions limp to top spot in Euro 2024 group

In yet another underwhelming display, England’s national football team, led by Gareth Southgate, ended their group stage campaign with a goalless draw against Slovenia. Despite finishing top of Group C, the Three Lions’ performance left much to be desired, sparking criticism and concern among fans and pundits alike.

Familiar Frustrations and Disappointing Draw

“A new game, same old ‘sh*t’,” as Gary Lineker succinctly put it, aptly sums up England’s performance against Slovenia. This match marked the third and final installment of an uninspiring showing in the group stage, which saw England struggle to find their form. Southgate made just one change to his starting XI, a decision that did little to inject the needed vigor into the team. The match against Slovenia was arguably their weakest performance, barely threatening their opponents, who celebrated wildly upon qualifying for the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the first time.

Defensive Stability, but Lacking in Creativity

Goalkeeper & Defence

• Jordan Pickford (5/10): Faced one shot all game and had very little kicking to do.
• Kyle Walker (6/10): Made one sloppy pass but overall commanded the defence and connected well with midfield.
• John Stones (5/10): Shy and safe with the ball. Barely crossed the halfway line.
• Marc Guehi (5/10): Swept up comfortably and looked composed, though had a scare after a mix-up with Stones, taking a booking for his sins by hauling down Sporar.
• Kieran Trippier (6/10): Had better coordination with Foden than previously and provided the best moment of the first half with a searching cross. Got an early booking.

Despite a solid defensive setup that prevented Slovenia from scoring, England’s backline struggled to transition into attack effectively. Walker and Trippier showed some promise in connecting with the midfield, but the overall defensive performance was marked by safety and caution, limiting any forward momentum.

Midfield Misfires and Missed Opportunities

Midfield

• Declan Rice (4/10): Another average display. Needed to show more ambition with his passing and take some initiative. All he could offer was a wayward long-range shot.
• Conor Gallagher (4/10): Had a heavy touch and ceded the ball a couple of times. Not much of an upgrade on Alexander-Arnold and hooked at half-time.
• Jude Bellingham (3/10): Passing was sloppy and missing his spark. A shadow of his commanding display to kick-off the tournament.

England’s midfield was perhaps the most concerning aspect of their performance. Rice, Gallagher, and Bellingham failed to impose themselves on the game. Their lack of creativity and ambition in passing stifled England’s ability to build meaningful attacks, resulting in a disjointed and ineffective midfield display.

Inconsistent Attack and Lack of Finishing Touch

Attack

• Bukayo Saka (5/10): Some bright moments but let down by his fellow attackers who gave him little to aim at.
• Harry Kane (4/10): Had minimal involvement in the build-up play and couldn’t connect with Trippier’s inviting pass, his only decent attempt.
• Phil Foden (6/10): His best performance yet at the tournament and the only England player who looked genuinely inventive.

England’s attacking players struggled to make a significant impact. Saka showed glimpses of his talent but was often isolated. Kane, who has been England’s reliable goal-scorer, found himself disconnected from the play and unable to convert the few chances that came his way. Foden, however, was a rare bright spot, displaying creativity and inventiveness that his teammates lacked.

Substitutes and Managerial Decisions

Subs & Manager

• Kobbie Mainoo (5/10): Offered more control than Gallagher and had a couple of bright passages of play, although not much of an improvement.
• Cole Palmer (7/10): Lively and daring and England’s best hope of finding a goal.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold (N/A): Played the final few minutes at right-back when Trippier came off.
• Anthony Gordon (N/A): Brought on for the final five minutes and couldn’t contribute much at all.
• Gareth Southgate (4/10): How could he make just one change to his line-up and expect better?! Booed off after full-time.

Southgate’s decision to make minimal changes to the starting lineup came under heavy scrutiny. The substitutions provided marginal improvement, with Palmer being the most promising, injecting energy and creativity in the final third. However, these changes were too little, too late to alter the course of the game significantly.

Narrow Escape from Germany and a Daunting Path Ahead

The only positive from this drab encounter was that Denmark’s inability to beat Serbia meant England avoided Germany in the last 16, placing them in the ‘easier’ side of the draw. However, given the current form, there’s little confidence that England will progress far, regardless of their opponents. The team’s lackluster performances have raised serious doubts about their ability to compete against stronger teams in the knockout stages.

 Urgent Need for Improvement

As England head into the knockout rounds, the urgency for significant improvement cannot be overstated. The goalless draw against Slovenia highlighted numerous weaknesses that need addressing. Southgate must find a way to galvanize his squad, fostering creativity and ambition that has been sorely lacking. If England are to advance further in the tournament, they must rediscover the form and firepower that has been missing throughout the group stage.

With a potentially easier path ahead, the opportunity is there for England to make a deep run in the tournament. However, this will require a dramatic turnaround in performance, tactical flexibility from Southgate, and a collective step-up from every player. Only then can the Three Lions hope to live up to their potential and avoid yet another disappointing exit from a major tournament.

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