England's Young Stars Shine in Thrilling Clash Against Croatia
Jordan Pickford had a challenging outing, struggling with some clearances and possibly feeling he could have done better with Croatia's first goal, earning a rating of 5. Nico O'Reilly, at just 19 years old, made his first start in a major tournament. Despite showing some nerves, he delivered a solid performance, highlighted by two good chances from set pieces in the second half, resulting in a 6. John Stones, the Manchester City centre-back, took on significant responsibility in ball progression but showed signs that he and Ezri Konsa need more time together as a defensive partnership, both receiving a rating of 5. Reece James grew into the match but had a quieter performance overall, contributing to a back four that conceded two goals, rated at 6. Declan Rice stood out with his powerful running and excellent set-piece delivery, providing the assist for Harry Kane's second goal and setting up two more chances, earning a solid 7. Elliot Anderson showcased maturity beyond his years, assisting Jude Bellingham's goal with a clever pass behind the defense, rated at 6. Anthony Gordon displayed energy and effective pressing but lacked the decisive touch in the final third, also receiving a 6. Jude Bellingham, trusted in the number 10 role, made a significant impact by scoring to put England 3-2 up, earning a 7 for his efforts. Noni Madueke was noted for his energy and game intelligence, winning England a penalty and being their most dangerous attacker, also rated at 7.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-17