• Jordan Pickford - 6: No chance with the penalty and had little to do expect keep the ball moving efficiently to England's defence. AP
    Jordan Pickford - 6: No chance with the penalty and had little to do expect keep the ball moving efficiently to England's defence. AP
  • Kyle Walker - 5: As harsh as the penalty was, there was no need for Walker to be swinging his arms around with no danger in sight. Almost cost England dear. AP
    Kyle Walker - 5: As harsh as the penalty was, there was no need for Walker to be swinging his arms around with no danger in sight. Almost cost England dear. AP
  • John Stones - 7: While untroubled at the back, it was his towering header which was brilliantly saved before Harry Kane tapped in the first. Could have scored following another set piece, but fluffed badly with the goal at his mercy. EPA
    John Stones - 7: While untroubled at the back, it was his towering header which was brilliantly saved before Harry Kane tapped in the first. Could have scored following another set piece, but fluffed badly with the goal at his mercy. EPA
  • Harry Maguire - 6: Gave the ball away twice in dangerous areas in the first half leading to brief panic for England. A few surging second-half runs backed manager Gareth Southgate's assessment that he can successfully bring the ball out from defence. It was from his initial header that Kane nodded in the winner. Getty
    Harry Maguire - 6: Gave the ball away twice in dangerous areas in the first half leading to brief panic for England. A few surging second-half runs backed manager Gareth Southgate's assessment that he can successfully bring the ball out from defence. It was from his initial header that Kane nodded in the winner. Getty
  • Kieran Trippier - 7: Fine start to the World Cup for England's right wing-back. Neat and tidy, and set pieces always looked dangerous. AP
    Kieran Trippier - 7: Fine start to the World Cup for England's right wing-back. Neat and tidy, and set pieces always looked dangerous. AP
  • Ashley Young - 6: Made few inroads down the left-hand side as he continually cut back inside. Rarely tested defensively, and against teams who camp behind the ball, England may be better off with the left-footed Danny Rose. Reuters
    Ashley Young - 6: Made few inroads down the left-hand side as he continually cut back inside. Rarely tested defensively, and against teams who camp behind the ball, England may be better off with the left-footed Danny Rose. Reuters
  • Jordan Henderson - 7: Offers more than just a shield in front of the defence as he proved with a couple of raking cross-field passes and is prepared to whip an early ball into the box. Kept England ticking. Getty
    Jordan Henderson - 7: Offers more than just a shield in front of the defence as he proved with a couple of raking cross-field passes and is prepared to whip an early ball into the box. Kept England ticking. Getty
  • Dele Alli - 6: Flicked a header on to the bar, but was otherwise unable to find that goal threat that comes so naturally when playing for Tottenham. He does however have to be more defensive minded when playing alongside Jesse Lingard. Reuters
    Dele Alli - 6: Flicked a header on to the bar, but was otherwise unable to find that goal threat that comes so naturally when playing for Tottenham. He does however have to be more defensive minded when playing alongside Jesse Lingard. Reuters
  • Jesse Lingard - 7: Could have had a first half hat-trick and will feel that he should have scored at least two. His first effort was saved just a few minutes in, when he was quick to react eight yards out. His second effort was a mishit volley from a cross - again from close range - and he was unfortunate that his poke past the onrushing keeper came back of the post. Quieter in the second half, but he has a knack of finding space. AP
    Jesse Lingard - 7: Could have had a first half hat-trick and will feel that he should have scored at least two. His first effort was saved just a few minutes in, when he was quick to react eight yards out. His second effort was a mishit volley from a cross - again from close range - and he was unfortunate that his poke past the onrushing keeper came back of the post. Quieter in the second half, but he has a knack of finding space. AP
  • Raheem Sterling - 5: Nothing went right for him on another frustrating night in an England shirt. Lost possession too often, ran up too many blind alleys and his place will come under threat from Marcus Rashford for the Panama match. AP
    Raheem Sterling - 5: Nothing went right for him on another frustrating night in an England shirt. Lost possession too often, ran up too many blind alleys and his place will come under threat from Marcus Rashford for the Panama match. AP
  • Harry Kane - 8: The perfect start for England's captain. Well shackled by Tunisia's defenders for the most part, but was in the right place at the right time and made his second goal look easy when really it wasn't as he guided his header into a sliver of space between the goalkeeper and post. The only England player in the starting XI who looks like he knows exactly how to score. Reuters
    Harry Kane - 8: The perfect start for England's captain. Well shackled by Tunisia's defenders for the most part, but was in the right place at the right time and made his second goal look easy when really it wasn't as he guided his header into a sliver of space between the goalkeeper and post. The only England player in the starting XI who looks like he knows exactly how to score. Reuters
  • Marcus Rashford - 7: Only on the pitch for 20 minutes, but produced more in that time than Sterling did in the previous 70. Plays with total confidence in his own ability. Getty
    Marcus Rashford - 7: Only on the pitch for 20 minutes, but produced more in that time than Sterling did in the previous 70. Plays with total confidence in his own ability. Getty
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 7: A 10-minute cameo, but impressed again with his trickery on the ball and willingness to try something other than the obvious. Put the ball on a plate for Rashford to shoot, but he chose to dummy for Lingard and the chance went by. Getty
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 7: A 10-minute cameo, but impressed again with his trickery on the ball and willingness to try something other than the obvious. Put the ball on a plate for Rashford to shoot, but he chose to dummy for Lingard and the chance went by. Getty

Football

World Cup: England player ratings as Kane double sees off Tunisia

Find out who was man of the match and whether Raheem Sterling finally found form in an England shirt

Ian Oxborrow
Ian Oxborrow

June 19, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

It was the result that England wanted in their World Cup Group G opener against Tunisia on Monday night, but the 2-1 victory was far from straightforward.

Manager Gareth Southgate will have some fresh selection dilemmas before their next match against Panama on Sunday.

The most pressing issue will be what to do about Raheem Sterling, who again disappointed when turning out for his country, having gone into the tournament on the back of a brilliant season for English Premier League winners Manchester City.

Swipe through the slide show above to see how the England players rated.

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Read more:

Harry Kane scores late winner as England beat Tunisia in World Cup opener

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