Jacob Steinberg at Wembley 

England player ratings: verdict from Nations League defeat against Greece

Lee Carsley’s decision to include Declan Rice as the sole holding midfielder spectacularly backfired with the plethora of attacking talent unable to ignite
  
  

Konstantinos Mavropanos puts the ball past a sprawling Jordan Pickford for Greece before the goal is disallowed
Konstantinos Mavropanos puts the ball past a sprawling Jordan Pickford for Greece before the goal is disallowed. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

England 4-2-4

Jordan Pickford (GK) Spread panic with a horror moment in possession early on and continued to struggle. Had no chance with Greece’s goals. 4/10

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) Kept inverting but his positioning meant that Greece had space when they broke down the left. Passing was off too. 4

John Stones (CB) Captained the team in Harry Kane’s absence. Beaten by Vangelis Pavlidis for striker’s first. Lacking match sharpness. 4

Levi Colwill (CB) The centre-back made a heroic clearance after Pickford’s blunder. Followed it up with some important blocks and tackles. Busy night. 5

Rico Lewis (LB) Drifted inside and popped up in some good positions. Had his hands full defensively and got in a muddle before Pavlidis’s winner. 5

Declan Rice (CM) Forced to deal with too many runners because of England playing too many attacking players. Overwhelmed on a confusing night. 4

Cole Palmer (CM) Wasted in a deep role. Why make him defend? Greece walked through England. Palmer was also sleeping before Greece’s third disallowed goal. 4

Bukayo Saka (RW) Unable to get into the game and run at Dimitris Giannoulis. Arsenal fans will be fretting about their winger limping off. 5

Phil Foden (AM) Lost in a free role. Saw little of the ball and was careless when he had it. Remains an enigma. 4

Jude Bellingham (AM) Made a chance for Palmer but the experiment with him in an advanced role did not work. Scored undeserved equaliser. 5

Anthony Gordon (LW) Ineffective. Rarely beat his full-back and his end product was disappointing, although he did not have a target to hit. 4

Subs

Noni Madueke Quiet after replacing Saka. Soon moved to the left. 5

Ollie Watkins Shot just over with his first touch. Should have started. Set up Bellingham. 6

Dominic Solanke Replaced Foden as England ended with two strikers on the pitch. 6

 

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