Match Ratings: Jordan Pickford man of the match yet again

Jordan Pickford (8/10) – England’s undisputed number one pulled off a good stop from Kevin De Bruyne early in the first half, and showed good anticipation to rush out and claim the ball before Romelu Lukaku met the ball. Pickford rescued his defenders again when Lukaku’s loose control allowed him to claim and avert danger. Pickford then beat away another Meunier shot, this time a volley from an excellent counter.

John Stones (6/10) – On the back foot for much of the match, along with the rest of the defence, he was on hand to provide an important block on an Eden Hazard shot, and did the same against Lukaku just before half time. He failed to pick out the pass for Hazard’s run, and stumbled towards him before the Belgian sealed victory.

Phil Jones (5/10) – A rare start for Jones demonstrated just why it was a rare start. He was sucked out of position early but he made up for that by blocking Youri Tielemans’ dangerous looking shot.

Harry Maguire (7/10) – He showed good anticipation to cover for a Lukaku run, and intercepted in Belgium’s half before starting a trademark run to the box, and blocked a De Bruyne shot. His attacking header went straight at Thibaut Courtois. In the second half he glanced a towering header wide of the near post. He provided a vital crunching tackle to prevent a third as De Bruyne closed in on a pass.

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Kieran Trippier (6/10) – Trippier enjoyed a quiet first half, but Belgian had plenty of success running in down the left-hand channel. He set up Ruben Loftus-Cheek with a dangerous left-footed cross, and provided a dangerous set-piece from deep.

Eric Dier (6/10) – Save for an early foul, he did little in the first half except to ping an excellent crossfield ball for Raheem Sterling to set up Harry Kane in England’s best move. He almost scored an excellent goal when he lifted the ball over the ‘keeper only to see it cleared off the line.

Fabian Delph (7/10) – He delivered a weak shot from distance, and found a fair amount of space in the first half. He was let down by Sterling’s control when looking for a one-two in the box after a nice pass. Switched to the left-hand side of defence for the second half, he was on hand for a crucial tackle on Meunier.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (6/10) – Loftus-Cheek looked more assured in the first half than Dele Alli, who seems to have been struggling with injury. A sharp run to the touchline showed more attacking intent than most of England’s midfield had managed, but sent a glancing header straight to Courtois. His cross from an early break in the second half was disappointingly wayward. A shimmy in the box opened up space for a pass to Rashford.

Danny Rose (5/10) – Rose had a poor first half, and he failed to mark Thomas Meunier’s run for the goal, when it was obviously signposted. He was hooked at half-time for a poor showing.

Raheem Sterling (5/10) – A typical Sterling performance for the World Cup. He hit one shot into a defender’s legs, dawdled on the box before being tackled, and displayed generally poor control. He did, however, bring down a fiercely hit pass from Dier to tee up Kane for England’s best chance. Taken off at half time.

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IN PICTURES: England take on Belgium for third place

Harry Kane (5/10) – He won a free kick 40 yards out, and missed an excellent chance most would have expected him to convert in a Spurs shirt. His worst performance of the World Cup.

SUBSTITUTES

Marcus Rashford (7/10) – Was clumped in the head by Thomas Vermaelen in the box, and was unlucky not to have been given what was an obvious foul. Provided an excellent return pass for Dier only to see him underweight his chipped shot.

Jesse Lingard (6/10) – His first contribution was to lash a volley across goal, cutting across the ball but without finding the whip into the net.

Dele Alli 6/10) – A late entrant to the match who had little chance to contribute.