Kenya Sport

World Cup 2026: Player Ratings from England's Goalless Draw with Ghana

England did not secure their place in the last 32 of the tournament after a dull 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday. Despite the result, they remain well-positioned to advance from Group L. BBC Sport's Alex Howell offers his take on each player's performance during the match in Boston. Below, you can also see how BBC Sport readers rated the players.

Starting Lineup Performance

  • Jordan Pickford: Had very little to do as Ghana sat back; no saves were required. Rating: 5
  • Reece James: Shifted into midfield when possible, linking up effectively with Noni Madueke. Delivered one notable cross that failed to find its target. Rating: 6
  • Marc Guehi: Replaced John Stones and remained composed throughout. Executed a key forward pass leading to a shot by Kane. Rating: 6
  • Ezri Konsa: Solid defensively, helped transition the ball to midfield, and recovered well during a late Ghana attack. Narrowly avoided conceding a penalty. Rating: 5
  • Djed Spence: Started his first game of the tournament and defended with care. Made a crucial block in the second half and contributed to an attacking move ending with a Gordon shot. Rating: 6
  • Declan Rice: Tried to create opportunities alongside James, with mixed results. His set-piece delivery was below usual standards but he managed some threatening corners late in the game. Rating: 6
  • Elliot Anderson: Focused on breaking up Ghana’s play and keeping things simple. Passed responsibility to more offensive teammates but didn't influence the match much. Rating: 5
  • Anthony Gordon: Marked tightly by Ghana’s right-back, struggled to make a significant impact despite effort. Rating: 5
  • Jude Bellingham: Usually England’s key creative force but found little space due to Ghana’s deep defense. Substituted in the second half. Rating: 6
  • Noni Madueke: Played wide and high, frequently attempting to take on defenders. Formed a promising partnership with James and delivered dangerous crosses. Rating: 6
  • Harry Kane: Had a quiet night, staying up front with limited chances to drop deeper. Missed a close-range opportunity that hit the crossbar. Rating: 5

Substitutes' Contributions

  • Bukayo Saka (65 mins): Entered for Gordon, showed urgency, headed over a good cross, and forced a strong save from Ghana's keeper. Rating: 6
  • Nico O'Reilly (66 mins): Replaced Spence at left-back, brought balance with his left foot. Nearly scored with a header hitting the crossbar. Rating: 6
  • Morgan Rogers (73 mins): Energetic but found it tough to find space in midfield. Rating: 6
  • Eberechi Eze (74 mins): Brought in to spark an attack but lost possession late, triggering a Ghana counterattack. Avoided punishment. Rating: 5
  • Marcus Rashford (83 mins): Came on late, created moments of brightness but had limited time to influence the match. Rating: 6

Player of the Match

Declan Rice earned the highest average rating from fans, scoring 6.41 for his efforts in midfield. Other top-rated players included Elliot Anderson (6.20), Jude Bellingham (6.17), and Bukayo Saka (6.15).

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