England vs. Greece: Player Ratings Revealed - A Night of Frustration and Missed Opportunities
The Three Lions stumbled to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Greece in their Euro 2024 qualifier at Old Trafford. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, England struggled to find a decisive breakthrough, leaving fans with a sense of disappointment. Here's a breakdown of the player ratings from a night of missed opportunities:
England:
- Jordan Pickford (6.5): A steady presence in goal, Pickford made a couple of key saves, most notably denying Bakasetas early in the second half. However, he was largely untested throughout the game.
- Kyle Walker (7.0): A reliable presence at right-back, Walker provided defensive solidity and offered some attacking threat down the flank. His experience and composure were vital for England.
- John Stones (6.5): A solid performance from Stones, who was comfortable on the ball and dealt with the Greek threat effectively. He could have done better with the positioning on the goal, but overall, a solid performance.
- Harry Maguire (6.0): Maguire seemed to struggle at times with the Greek pressing, losing possession on a few occasions. He lacked the decisiveness needed to deal with the threat posed by the Greek attackers.
- Luke Shaw (6.5): A tireless performance from Shaw, who provided width and attacking impetus down the left. His deliveries into the box were often dangerous, but lacked the final touch needed to break the deadlock.
- Declan Rice (7.0): Another solid outing for Rice, who controlled the midfield with his customary calmness and composure. He was instrumental in dictating the tempo of the game and shielding the backline.
- Jude Bellingham (7.5): The standout performer for England, Bellingham dominated the midfield, creating numerous chances and showing his quality on the ball. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and was a constant threat to the Greek defense.
- Bukayo Saka (6.0): Saka struggled to impact the game as much as he usually does. He had a few moments of brilliance, but was often frustrated by the Greek defense and seemed to lack the sharpness in his final pass.
- Phil Foden (6.5): Foden was a constant menace to the Greek defense with his dribbling skills and quick feet. He had a few opportunities to score, but couldn't find the back of the net.
- Harry Kane (7.0): Kane showed his usual threat, leading the line with his signature hold-up play and intelligent movement. He finally broke the deadlock with a well-taken penalty, but should have scored at least one more goal given the chances he created.
- Substitutes:
- Jack Grealish (6.0): Brought on to inject pace and creativity, Grealish made some promising runs but couldn't make a real impact on the game.
- Callum Wilson (N/A): Came on too late to be assessed.
Greece:
- Vlachodimos (7.5): The Greek keeper was outstanding, pulling off numerous important saves and frustrating England's attackers throughout the game. He was particularly impressive in dealing with crosses and free-kicks.
- Manolas (7.0): A veteran of the game, Manolas showed his experience with a strong defensive performance. He was disciplined, organized, and won his fair share of aerial duels against the English forwards.
- Bakasetas (7.0): A real threat on the counterattack, Bakasetas caused the England defense problems with his pace and direct running. He also scored the crucial equaliser with a well-placed free-kick.
- Masouras (6.5): A tireless performer, Masouras worked tirelessly in midfield, disrupting England's flow and providing a defensive presence. He was a key reason why Greece were able to hold England at bay for long periods.
Overall:
England dominated possession but failed to convert their chances, ultimately paying the price for a lack of clinical finishing. Greece, however, showed resilience and discipline, capitalizing on a rare opportunity to score an equaliser. Despite the disappointment, England remain top of their qualifying group, but this performance should serve as a wake-up call ahead of future challenges.