NEW JERSEY — It might not have always made for particularly pleasant viewing but England are through.
The knockout rounds await for Thomas Tuchel’s men, having done enough to win Group L.
But who impressed and who struggled? Here are the winners and losers from the group stages.
Winners
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring England’s first goal against Panama (Photo: Getty)Restored to his rightful place as England’s talisman, it now seems absurd that some sensible observers were debating his role out here in North America.
What would England do without him? He is not only the man most likely to, he is also the man who wants to. He turned the Croatia game on its head with his brave run and superb finish, was the only one running with the ball against Ghana and broke the deadlock in New Jersey.
And you know that when the tougher tests come for England – as they surely will this week with DR Congo before a potential stonker against Mexico next weekend – he will maintain the same belief and hunger.
For anyone still talking about his attitude, just remind them that he has now scored five major tournament goals across three tournaments by the age of 23. He now has three World Cup goals, which is some going.
If England are to go truly deep in this competition, Bellingham will be central to it.
Elliot Anderson
Sometimes it is easy to forget that Anderson only made his England debut nine months ago. This is his first World Cup but he looks like he belongs and plays with the authority of someone who is much more experienced than his callow years.
He has been good in all three group games and against Panama, proved that he can helm an international midfield virtually on his own. Against the better sides you suspect he will need Declan Rice back in the starting XI to stem the tide but he has proved that this is his stage.
He will complete a £116m move to Manchester City this week. When the big games come thick and fast, expect him to step up.
Bukayo Saka
England have lacked creativity in Group L, struggling to break down Ghana and toiling against Panama for spells. With Tuchel opting to leave some of his mavericks at home the importance of Saka, who has been eased into this tournament due to an Achilles injury, is clear.
He doesn’t just progress the ball quicker than anyone else in this team, he is also a chief supplier. An assist for Bellingham in the game that confirmed England went through as group winners was a vital intervention.
Losers
Reece James
Reece James suffered a hamstring injury in the 0-0 draw with Ghana (Photo: Getty)Was Tuchel serious when he said that no one could have predicted James’ injury problems out here?
The greatest predictor of future injury problems is past record and James has never convinced as someone who would be able to hack three games in a short space of time. Succumbing to a niggle – even if it is supposedly minor – was sadly predictable.
He will perhaps return for the business end of the tournament but this is a super-sized World Cup, which means more games at a quicker pace. England could play five games in 19 days if all goes to plan – can he cope with that schedule?
John Stones
It looked before the tournament as if it would be Stones plus one but he was replaced after Croatia – when England’s defence looked shaky – and hasn’t been seen since.
Perhaps he will re-emerge, and we know Tuchel is a fan, but it feels like the athleticism of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa is now the preferred pairing.
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Gordon was outraged that he didn’t get a chance at the last Euros, feeling he was in the form of his life and would have lit up the tournament. Handed the opportunity to do so in the US, he has been utterly meh.
His supporters would say that he gets through an awful lot of work on the left flank but that is not enough. There needs to be more variation about his game.
Might get another chance but seems to have slipped down the pecking order with Marcus Rashford providing more threat against Panama.
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