England player ratings vs Belgium: Jack Grealish dazzles after Eric Dier hands hosts fast start

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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_15 November 2020

England’s Uefa Nations League campaign was all but ended with a game to spare following  a 2-0 defeat in Belgium.

A sloppy start left England with far too much to do despite a much improved second half.

Here’s how Gareth Southgate’s side rated…

Jordan Pickford 5

Was unfortunate with the first goal, which he would have saved without the deflection, and could do little about Mertens’s free-kick.

Kyle Walker 6

Tried desperately to inject some pace into the England side but couldn’t create too much going forward.

Eric Dier 5

Sloppy passing gifted Belgium the ball ahead of the opening goal, more assured after the break but rarely tested.

Tyrone Mings 6

Mings solid
AFP via Getty Images

Largely handled Romelu Lukaku well on the left of England’s back three, a position that’s not too suited to the Aston Villa man.

Kieran Trippier 6

Solid performance but would have wanted to show a touch more with Reece James breathing down his neck.

Declan Rice 6

Recovered well from a shaky start to provide a good platform as England pushed on to get back into the second half.

Jordan Henderson 5

Offered little in the middle alongside Rice before being replaced by Winks at the break.

Ben Chilwell 6

Injury worry for Chilwell
BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Managed to get forward a few times to deliver a cross before being forced off injured after 38 minutes.

Mason Mount 6

Pushed hard to creat for England and could have had an assist with a fine flick to tee up Kane.

Jack Grealish 8 Star man

Grealish impressed
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Caused no end of problems for Belgium on the ball, winning countless fouls and free-kicks in dangerous positions. A fine and confident first competitive start.

Harry Kane 6

Would have marked his 50th cap with a goal if it wasn’t for Romelu Lukaku clearing off the line. Linked well with Grealish.

Substitutes

Bukayo Saka 6

Continues to look assured at international level, threatened a couple of times down the left and was hardly tested defensively.

Harry Winks 7

Picked the pace up for England after his introduction at the break and helped dictate the play through the second half.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin n/a

Jadon Sancho n/a

Subs not used: Pope, Henderson, Keane, Maitland-Niles, Bellingham, Foden, Abraham,

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