Ranking England's Players Following Their Euro 2016 Exit
England fans are all too familiar with the images percolating through various forms of media since their Euro 2016 exit on Monday night.
Players strewn on the ground in disbelief and disappointment after getting knocked out? Check. Those same losers heading home via coaches and airports with bags slung over their shoulders? Yep.
The sight of a demoralised manager giving his post-tournament press conference(s) was given extra drama this year with Roy Hodgson confirming his own departure. His announcement was inevitable, a natural conclusion to a disappointing tournament recalled dejectedly in the following players rankings.
It was splitting hairs at times differentiating between a squad that, give or take a few exceptions, was uniformly underwhelming.
Match time, experience and circumstances dictated by position and opposition have all been taken into account in deciding who should be ranked where. Ultimately, the following choices were this writer's opinion.
England had no right to assume anything in this tournament, but based on their players' work in good company at club level (in the Premier League and in Europe), things could have been better.
Whatever the reasons they were not, these rankings represent the latest stuffy, listless failure of this country on the international stage.
Those Who Did Not Feature
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The four players who did not make an appearance at Euro 2016 are naturally not included in these rankings.
Goalkeepers Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton will not have expected to be involved. Given first choice Joe Hart's poor performances, that thinking may change heading into the upcoming World Cup qualifying cycle.
John Stones was not needed as cover at centre-back and will perhaps be grateful not to have his reputation damaged if he intends to leave Everton this summer.
After a rough latter half to the season, his club-mate Ross Barkley can at least take solace in the fact his confidence has not been further damaged by participation in his country's struggles.
19. James Milner
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Seeing as he played just about eight minutes in the whole tournament, James Milner is perhaps a little unlucky to take bottom spot in these rankings.
Tasked with helping hold onto England's slim lead against Russia, the midfielder was unable to stem the flow that put the side on the back foot. Leonid Slutsky's men continued pushing them back and got their reward of a stoppage-time equaliser.
The goal itself was a team-wide failure. But for a player renowned for his reliability and versatility, it was an unsuccessful contribution from Milner.
18. Joe Hart
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"I've got to be saving the second goal, the standards I set haven't been met in this tournament," Hart told ITV Sport's Gabriel Clarke of the Kolbeinn Sigthorsson strike that saw England go behind against Iceland. "I'll hold my hands up to that and I apologise for ultimately costing us the game tonight, and the tournament."
It was the second big error the goalkeeper made after he misjudged Gareth Bale's free-kick in the group game against Wales. That one did not prove costly; this one did.
Hart was fiery in the tunnel before matches, but that turned out to be more bluster than inspiring leadership. When England needed him most he lacked composure, and the 29-year-old may have a battle on his hands to keep his No. 1 shirt moving forward.
17. Raheem Sterling
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Raheem Sterling won the penalty that led to Wayne Rooney scoring England’s opener against Iceland. Alas, rather than the start of the attacker getting into gear again at the tournament, it was but a brief hopeful sputter.
Sterling played decently against Russia, but his regression against Wales—notably missing a big early chance—saw him made a scapegoat among some fans for the team’s offensive struggles.
The team did little better without him against Slovakia, and he was recalled for Iceland. The Manchester City man tried in vain to offer a spark out left but was all too comfortably dealt with.
16. Jack Wilshere
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Unlike Milner, Jack Wilshere did offer some control off the bench against Russia. England had not long taken the lead and for a short time the Arsenal man looked to push his team forward in search of a goal that would seal their win.
Part of a midfield that was bypassed by the late Russian charge, Wilshere had little to worry about defensively in his start against Slovakia. Yet although his effort and persistence was admirable, his touch and passing let him down as he frequently led his team into dead ends.
Wilshere improved slightly versus Iceland but was still unable to affect things anywhere near how he would have liked.
15. Harry Kane
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Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane was not helped at Euro 2016 by a distinct lack of good penalty-box service—up until the Iceland match anyway, when he was able to test the goalkeeper some (he was unlucky with one volley getting tipped over the bar).
While this and the isolation Hodgson's 4-3-3 often created did not help Kane's cause, it is safe to say he was not quite himself.
Usually stronger and more aware in the channels and deeper areas, he was too easily dispossessed by harrying opponents. The decision to hand him set-piece duties did not work, either, ultimately undermining his confidence as his technique all but deserted him.
14. Gary Cahill and 13. Chris Smalling
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It is difficult to separate England’s centre-backs at these European Championships: Both Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling were adequate in places.
Aggressive coming forward to deal with direct balls sent their way and willing to engage with their opponents, they largely dealt with Wales and Slovakia’s rare forays forward, too.
Like Hart, however, they were found wanting on a couple of big occasions.
The lack of communication between them for both Russia’s equaliser and Iceland’s winner was to prove costly. Each looked more like they were fighting their own individual battle rather than performing as the unit England needed.
12. Wayne Rooney
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Hodgson’s choice to play Rooney in midfield was one of the biggest decisions of England’s tournament.
Favouring others ahead of the country’s all-time leading scorer up front, he was tasked with dictating the play that would create chances for them.
Russia was a positive start in this regard—he spread the ball precisely, reading the runs of his full-backs well. He was not always prompt centrally but did make the pass that led to Dele Alli winning the free-kick Eric Dier would score from.
His passing range continued to impress throughout the tournament. While this was useful in places, the captain was all too often content to sit back and go for the easy options here, rather than force the issue with quick, dribble-enhanced combinations in closer quarters.
In fairness, the movement ahead of him left a lot to be desired, but it resulted in England being all too slow at times.
Rooney looked to get forward and join the attack, which did result in some shooting opportunities. However, it was not the kind of influence his team needed him to have.
11. Ryan Bertrand
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Ryan Bertrand's placing above others who played more than the one match he did is a reflection of his being average, not bad.
The left-back did not look especially confident against Slovakia, but nor was he really troubled either. He looked to get forward when he could and did enough defending his flank.
Bertrand will head home without his reputation damaged, which is more than many of England’s squad can say.
10. Dele Alli
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After a frustrating end to his season with Tottenham (individual suspension and a collapse of their title challenge), Alli’s mood will not have been brightened by his first major tournament campaign.
The midfielder played with typical energy and attacking intent but never got into the kind of rhythm he established with his club this season.
He and Rooney did not get in each other’s way, but they did not quite click either. Played a little deeper than he is with Spurs, too, Alli was not often able to make the runs where he is most effective.
The 20-year-old did not shame himself by any means, but he will hope there is better to come in his England career.
9. Danny Rose
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Danny Rose justified his selection as England's first-choice left-back ahead of Bertrand. He defended with typical vigour, provided a reliable passing option and got forward as often as possible.
Unfortunately for Rose, he was unable to establish the kind of on-pitch relationships in the England setup that he has with those at Tottenham.
As noted earlier, Cahill and Smalling seemed to be on a different wavelength to each other and everyone else. Out on the left, Sterling's movements did not coalesce naturally with the full-back's, with the winger often either blocking his path for a potential overlap or going on an ill-advised solo attack.
8. Jamie Vardy
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After the high of a title-winning season with Leicester City, Jamie Vardy's first major tournament with his country did not come close to matching it.
He was in the right place at the right time for his goal against Wales and it would have been harder to miss. Still, it was one of the few successful attacking moments for England.
Thereafter, Vardy did his best to instil some aggression and zest to their final-third work—a hard ask given how deeply England’s opponents sat against them. He missed a big chance against Slovakia but otherwise had little to work with and was left to fight for scraps.
With Hodgson mixing and matching his attack, it was a commendable effort in the circumstances. What Vardy's international future holds will be intriguing to see.
7. Jordan Henderson
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Jordan Henderson was a big part of England's memorable, false-dawn of a win over world champions Germany in March. Hodgson's use of Rooney in midfield, though, meant the Liverpool man was relegated to the bench for all but one match at Euro 2016.
That sole appearance against Slovakia was a good one for most of his time on the pitch.
Henderson put himself about, relishing the midfield duels and attempting whenever possible to drive his team forward and join attacks.
The 0-0 result shows he was not able to make the difference he would have liked. But in a tournament where so many of his team-mates flattered to deceive, Henderson will at least know he gave his best shot in the time allotted him.
6. Nathaniel Clyne
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Similar of Henderson can be said of his Liverpool team-mate Nathaniel Clyne.
The full-back was one of England's biggest attacking threats against Slovakia. He combined well with Henderson and others charging into opposition territory, where his swift cuts inside and tempting crossing caused a number of problems.
With little to deal with in his own half, Clyne could focus on bombarding Slovakia. He may well feel aggrieved those further forward did not make more of his work.
Had the rested Kyle Walker not played so well in the previous games, Clyne would almost certainly have got the nod to stay on against Iceland.
Their battle for the right-back spot will be one of the most fascinating positional duels moving forward.
5. Adam Lallana
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Adam Lallana was probably as wasteful in front of goal as anyone in this England squad. But of those who appeared in more than one match, he was one of the few whose work ethic and intent deserves credit.
He and Walker combined superbly at times against Russia, and while he should have done better with some chances, he was also a little unlucky.
Lallana had less come his way against Wales and Slovakia but continued to search for openings. Few others were as incisive as him, and he probably has the right to wonder why he was dropped against Iceland.
4. Kyle Walker
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Walker's final big moment at Euro 2016 was unfortunately one he will want to forget. His failure to track Ragnar Sigurdsson following a long Iceland throw was punished with the defender cancelling out Rooney’s earlier goal.
Hodgson's decision to rest the full-back against Slovakia seemingly backfired, as Walker’s well-established previous rhythm deserted him with a costly lapse in concentration.
It is a shame, as against Russia and Wales, the defender was a contender for England’s best player.
He defended his side solidly in both games and was just about excellent going forward.
It could be argued the reliance on width and creativity from their full-backs is not something England should lean so heavily on, instead their more naturally attacking players should offer more.
Walker could only do what was asked of him, though, and in the early days of these European Championships, he did so very well.
3. Marcus Rashford
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Marcus Rashford's inclusion in this squad was one of the most discussed pre-tournament decisions. Did England really need a fifth striker, and if they did, should they really be taking one who had not made a senior appearance before 2016?
The former question is still up for debate, but the 18-year-old gave more encouraging hints he is not some flash in the pan.
Rashford played less than half an hour's football at this tournament yet suggested in that time he is one of the few England players comfortable at this level.
Things were severely muddled and crowded late on against Wales as Hodgson went for broke in desperate search of a winner, packing his team with attackers, but the Manchester United striker showed impressive composure amid the disorganised mess.
Late on in the doomed and fateful last-16 match with Iceland, he was the only England player all evening who looked like getting through the wall of blue shirts with the ball at his feet.
Rashford has plenty still to prove in his young England career, but if he's nurtured in the right way, this kid looks a prospect for sure.
2. Daniel Sturridge
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It has been a tough year for Daniel Sturridge. Battling to overcome injury problems and convince Liverpool’s new manager Jurgen Klopp he can adjust to his demands, he had to contend with others having seemingly moved ahead of him in the pecking order at England.
As it was, he only had to wait a game-and-a-half to get his chance, and he grabbed it.
England were almost as bad in the second half against Wales as they were before the interval, with their toothless approach giving way to a more direct but seemingly random one.
Sturridge brought a touch of class to the mess. Constantly asking for the ball in the deeper position he was deployed, he chose his pockets of space well and looked England’s most likely scorer.
That proved to be the case with his superb late goal, as his determination saw him through the Welsh defence before he finished smartly.
It was no surprise Sturridge kept his place after, but it he was still deployed in a supporting role in a front three rather than as part of a proper front two.
Kept away from goal and required to pitch in with covering the flank, he tried to make the best of a bad situation. A lot of what he tried did not come off, but he has done himself no harm in showing he can be a useful team man.
1. Eric Dier
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Eric Dier suffered the ignominy of being the tactical withdrawal at half-time against Iceland as Hodgson again threw everything on in the hope something would stick. As it was, he would have been better off keeping the 22-year-old on the pitch.
Alli, Rooney, Wilshere and others all failed to create much of note. Yet against Slovakia, Dier was arguably England's best on the ball, notably creating a great chance for Sturridge that the attacker missed.
Indeed, throughout this tournament, the versatile Tottenham player was consistently his side's most mature and thoughtful presence.
He scored a great free-kick to give England the lead against Russia and then more-or-less dominated the central areas versus Wales. In the latter game, he looked to push the team on when others were unwilling to.
Where his team-mates rushed things or meandered, Dier adjusted to the varying tempo required at this level.
There is a lot of uncertainty around this England team moving forward, but here at least they may have a player they can build around for years to come.
