England’s half-time ratings from a disastrous half-time win over Slovakia

England’s Euro 2024 hopes are in tatters after Ivan Schranz’s goal gave Slovakia a deserved lead at half-time in their last 16 tie in Gelsenkirchen.

The pressure was on Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions to prove the naysayers wrong after a tiring, group-stage toil that saw just one win in three games. The draws against Denmark and Slovenia were painful to watch, with Southgate’s team selection, tactics and reluctance to be adventurous drawing the ire of pundits and supporters alike.

Heavy favorites against Slovakia, England made just one change to their starting line-up – Kobbie Mainoo coming into the side to replace Conor Gallagher. But despite having a positive impact in midfield, England looked all at sea in the opening 45 minutes against Slovakia.

Their indolence and poor decision-making cost Marc Guehi an early booking – ruling him out of the quarter-final against Switzerland – while Mainoo and Jude Bellingham were again shown yellow cards in a hectic first 15 minutes.

Slovakia had already gone behind a few times when John Stones and Guehi misjudged each other to give Slovakia the lead. The two went up to the same aerial ball, which they could not win, and David Strelec’s pass was put in by Shranz.

He got away from the retreating Guehi, who was unable to challenge after his early warning, and slotted the ball past Jordan Pickford who was in trouble – the England keeper was furious at the level of defense in front of him.

Things were not looking good as Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in particular struggled to make a positive impact on the game. England’s final ball was heartbreaking if it really mattered, leaving the players shrugging as they entered the dressing room at half-time staring down the barrel of an ignominious exit from Euro 2024.

GK: Jordan Pickford – 5/10 – He must be completely confused by what is happening in front of him. No chance for a goal.

RB: Kyle Walker – 3/10 – They did not add anything to England’s attack. The rapid recovery speed does not support continuous selection.

CB: John Stones – 3/10 – No contact with Guehi for the Slovakia goal. It’s a rookie mistake you can’t make on the international stage.

CB: Marc Guehi – 4/10 – Trippier was treated early in hospital, resulting in a yellow card and quarter-final suspension. Understandably it makes sense in hindsight but, like Stones, he should have done better with the goal.

LB: Kieran Trippier – 3/10 – It’s clearly not fair and it involves the kind of work Newcastle United fans have been enduring for the better part of six months.

DM: Declan Rice – 4/10 – He seems to lack the confidence he has at Arsenal, perhaps feeling the weight of expectation. He took things down a notch.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo – 6/10 – The only real bright light in England’s performance was in the first half. He dipped a volley over the crossbar and tried to make things happen.

CM: Jude Bellingham – 2/10 – Some have argued that Bellingham’s year at Real Madrid was perhaps not as good as the hype would suggest. Either way, he’s out of step and looks completely confused about his role.

RW: Bukayo Saka – 5/10 – Some neat work early on will have silenced those looking for a Cole Palmer launch. Below the standards he set at Arsenal, mind you.

ST: Harry Kane – 3/10 – He scored 44 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season but you’d be forgiven for thinking that Kane had yet to score 44 goals in his career. Which is strange.

LW: Phil Foden – 2/10 – Blimey, not much to say is there? It is clear that he is frustrated with his role in the team – making England’s most prolific player completely unknown.

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