by Цоомоо » Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:02 am
England's World Cup: The Player Ratings
1. PAUL ROBINSON
It took until the 77th minute of England's fifth game of the World Cup for Robinson to be called upon to make what you might call a 'proper save'. Perhaps if he had been tested earlier and more often, he would have left a much better impression. Instead we shall remember Robinson's World Cup for some crazy flappage at crosses in the opening stages which just smacked of a 'keeper trying to get involved. We blame it on the black kick-boxing gloves.
Mark: 6
2. GARY NEVILLE
England just seems a better place with The Neviller at right-back. They say you don't miss your water until your well runs dry, or rather until you start thinking about the alternatives at right-back. Looked a little short of pace against Portugal, but would you like to face Cristiano Ronaldo on your return from injury? It's just a shame he's too old to be considered for the captaincy, really.
Mark: 6
3. ASHLEY COLE
Grew in stature with every game - after starting sluggishly against Paraguay, he was one of England's better players against Ecuador, producing the defensive moment of the tournament with his blocking tackle when John Terry had made a rare cock-up. Shame for him that England went out just when he was truly finding his form. The future Mr Tweedy can certainly hold his head high for Hello! at the wedding.
Mark: 7
4. STEVEN GERRARD
Flattered by any comparison to the woeful Frank Lampard, who would have made Jermaine Jenas look good in Germany, Gerrard certainly had his moments - two goals, a goal-line clearance and a couple of cracking tackles - but we still don't see the Liverpool version of Gerrard when he puts on an England shirt. And that really was a rotten penalty, Stevie...
Mark: 7
5. RIO FERDINAND
You can't argue with statistics that show that England conceded only two goals in five games in Germany, but you can argue with Ferdinand's distribution at times. For a player characterised more by his ability as a footballer than a defender, there were far too many hopeful punts from the ManYoo man. Great tackle in the closing minutes against Portugal, though.
Mark: 7
6. JOHN TERRY
Made more mistakes in England's opening four games - running under the throw-in for the second Sweden equaliser, his curious header to let in Ecuador - than in the last two seasons for Chelsea. But he was tremendous against Trinidad & Tobago and grew in stature against Paraguay, especially when he knew he would not play in any semi-final. Surely the next England captain?
Mark: 7
7. DAVID BECKHAM
Directly responsible for three of England's six goals in this World Cup, which doesn't look too bad a statistic on paper. But too often our captain went missing, except when there was a dead-ball situation - and too often those set-pieces went missing too. It was telling that England looked a much better side after his exit against Portugal, and now the clamour will begin in earnest for England to pick a genuine winger on the right.
Mark: 6
8. FRANK LAMPARD
When Lampard goes back for the first day of Chelsea training, what will he say when Claude Makelele or Michael Ballack ask what he did this summer? 'Took 20-odd shots, scored no goals, missed a penalty, contributed nothing else'? Frankly, he was rotten. Absolutely dire. The second-best player in the world? He's not even the second-best player in his family on this form.
Mark: 3
9. WAYNE ROONEY
Sir Alex Ferguson said it was a "pipe dream" to think that Rooney would play any part in this tournament. We now hope he feels a bit silly. Came back, played, looked good in patches in difficult circumstances, but he was always going to be hampered by his own fitness and a formation that doesn't suit him. Who knows whether he meant to stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, but if the answer's 'yes', then he really is a very silly boy.
Mark: 7
10. MICHAEL OWEN
Clearly nowhere near fit enough to play as he barely got a meaningful touch against Paraguay or Trinidad & Tobago. And when he's not sharp enough to score goals, he really might as well not be on the pitch. He'll be back, though.
Mark: 4
11. JOE COLE
It all started so very well - England's best attacking player in the opening stages became one of their worst when it all got serious. The crowded midfield pushed him further to the left and his touch seemed to desert him. Still scored one of England's more breathtaking goals of recent years, though.
Mark: 7
12. SOL CAMPBELL
Only made it on the pitch for 44 minutes, and they were defensively England's worst. Seems unlikely to ever wear an England shirt again and probably shouldn't have done so this summer.
Mark: 5
13. DAVID JAMES
Unused.
14. WAYNE BRIDGE
Unused. Though they he did look sharp warming up just before David Beckham's goal v Ecuador, when he sat down again.
15. JAMIE CARRAGHER
Certainly let nobody down when filling in for Gary Neville, but a right-back he ain't - everything noticeably goes down the left for England when he's on the pitch as he offers very little as an attacking option. Unlucky to have to re-take his penalty against Potrugal as the first was a cracker.
Mark: 6
16. OWEN HARGREAVES
Few players really enhanced their reputation in this tournament but one of them was undoubtedly Owen Hargreaves. The Bayern Munich man went from being derided and booed to being heralded as a hero in three short weeks. Was undoubtedly the man of the match against Portugal, still covering every inch of the pitch after 120 minutes. And he's been in Germany long enough to know how to take a penalty...
Mark: 9
17. JERMAINE JENAS
Unused. Thank God.
18. MICHAEL CARRICK
Played exceptionally well in his only outing against Ecuador but found himself back on the bench for the Portugal, though few (except perhaps Alan Hansen) would argue with that decision now. Barely put a foot wrong in the 90 minutes he was on the pitch, and will have put an extra Ј2m on his asking price if nothing else.
Mark: 8
19. AARON LENNON
On the pitch for less than 45 minutes all told, but probably scared the life out of more defenders in that half of football than any other English player in the whole tournament. Expect there now to be a big push for his inclusion from the starting whistle, but expect Steve McClaren to ignore that and stick with David Beckham.
Mark: 8
20. STEWART DOWNING
Apparently he played 36 minutes, but in comparison with Lennon on the other flank, his contributions were pretty forgettable. Did okay against Paraguay but certainly did nothing to scream out that he should be picked ahead of Joe Cole. Although with Steve McClaren in charge, he might well be.
Mark: 6
21. PETER CROUCH
As always, a tale of 'from the sublime to the ridiculous' with Crouch - from his woeful finishing early in the T & T game when he seemed to try and take everything with a flying volley, to a fantastic performance alone up front against Portugal after the sending-off of Rooney, when the ball seemed to stick to him as he waited for support. The only England striker to score in this World Cup.
Mark: 7
22. SCOTT CARSON
Unused.
23. THEO WALCOTT
Unused.