Euro 2024 qualifying: England ratings against North Macedonia
England's Rico Lewis shakes hands with manager Gareth Southgate after the UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying - Nov 2023
There is no denying England were below par in their final Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia but there were still a few of decent individual performances.
JORDAN PICKFORD: Saved Enis Bardhi’s spot-kick but could not stop the Macedonian skipper slamming home the follow-up. Had little else to do. 7
KYLE WALKER: Captained his country for first time in Skopje. Not at his marauding best at right-back. 6
HARRY MAGUIRE: Fortunate to avoid giving away a first-half penalty after seeing a pass cut out. Settled after some hairy moments. 5
MARC GUEHI: England’s third-choice centre-back got more vital experience in John Stones’ absence and was solid enough. 6
RICO LEWIS: Promising debut on the eve of his 19th birthday. Deployed at left-back but far more advanced in possession, his flailing arm led to contentious Macedonia penalty after a VAR review. Lively. 7
DECLAN RICE: Struck the post with a 20-yard shot in 14th minute and was a reliable midfield performer. 6
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD: The midfield experiment continues. Forced a stoppage-time save but did not impose himself in the way Southgate may have wanted. 5
BUKAYO SAKA: Survived a couple of late challenges on him and produced a moment of excellent skill to cross for Jack Grealish’s ruled-out equaliser. 6
PHIL FODEN: Played as number 10 and showed some lovely touches but was not as intricate or expansive as he could have been. 6
JACK GREALISH: Proved a nuisance throughout but lacked directness in his attacking runs. Saw a goal ruled out for offside. 6
Recommended Offers
£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 100 Free Spins
Get up to £50 Welcome Bonus
Get £10 in Free Bets
OLLIE WATKINS: Guilty of a poor first-half header on a night when the service was not great, but nor was his movement and presence. 5
SUBS:
HARRY KANE (for Watkins, 58): First touch of the ball after his introduction forced an own goal. An impact the skipper was unable to build upon. 6
KALVIN PHILLIPS (for Alexander-Arnold, 84): Late introduction, bringing fresh legs to the midfield. 6
COLE PALMER (for Saka, 84): Second England cap for the new boy that was ready to make an impact but was not able to. 5
MARCUS RASHFORD (for Grealish, 84): Brought on as England sought a winner. Rifled a late free-kick wide and lacked quality in open play. 5
READ MORE: Gareth Southgate looks for positives after abject England performance against North Macedonia
