England Player Ratings: Bellingham Struggles in Finland Win
England secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Finland in a friendly on Wednesday, but the performance left much to be desired. The Three Lions dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances, with a late goal from Harry Kane ultimately securing the win.
Here's a breakdown of the England player ratings from the game:
Goalkeeper:
- Jordan Pickford (7/10): Pickford had a relatively quiet game, making a couple of routine saves but hardly tested. He was alert to danger and commanded his penalty area confidently.
Defenders:
- Kyle Walker (7/10): Walker provided his usual threat down the right flank and defended solidly throughout. He showed good communication and composure in defense.
- John Stones (6/10): Stones was comfortable in possession and looked assured defensively, but was not heavily tested by the Finnish attack.
- Eric Dier (6/10): Dier was solid and dependable as usual, but lacked the dynamism and creativity that could have unlocked the Finnish defense.
- Ben Chilwell (6/10): Chilwell had a few moments of promise, but lacked the cutting edge in the final third. His crosses weren't consistently accurate, and his attacking instincts were subdued.
Midfielders:
- Jude Bellingham (5/10): Bellingham had a disappointing game. He struggled to impose himself in midfield, lacking his usual energy and dynamism. His passing was often wayward, and he couldn't find the key passes to unlock the Finnish defense.
- Declan Rice (7/10): Rice was his usual solid self, anchoring the midfield and providing a platform for others to attack. His distribution was generally accurate, and he won numerous tackles and aerial duels.
- Phil Foden (7/10): Foden was one of England's brighter sparks. He showed some clever footwork and made some incisive runs, but was denied a goal by a fine save from the Finnish goalkeeper. He was arguably the most creative player on the pitch.
Forwards:
- Harry Kane (8/10): Kane was a threat throughout the game. He won a penalty early on, which he missed himself, but ultimately scored the winning goal with a well-taken volley. He was a constant nuisance to the Finnish defense and showed his class with a well-taken goal.
- Bukayo Saka (6/10): Saka was lively and attempted to make things happen, but ultimately lacked the end product. He created a few chances but his final ball was often off target.
Substitutes:
- Jack Grealish (7/10): Grealish came on with renewed purpose and injected some much-needed creativity into the England attack. He created a couple of chances and looked to make things happen.
- Raheem Sterling (6/10): Sterling came on in the second half and looked sharp, but ultimately lacked the killer instinct in the final third.
- Kalvin Phillips (6/10): Phillips came on late to help solidify the midfield and shore up the defense.
Overall:
England's performance was underwhelming, despite the victory. While they controlled the game, they lacked the cutting edge in the final third and struggled to break down a resolute Finnish defense. Bellingham's struggles were particularly noticeable, but Kane's late goal secured the win.
The game offered a few positives, with Foden and Grealish shining in particular. But it highlighted the need for England to improve their creativity and finishing if they are to achieve success at the upcoming European Championships.
