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England have arrived home after the World Cup having recorded their best finish at the tournament since 1966, but with a lingering sense of regret.

The semi-final defeat to Argentina must go down as a glorious missed opportunity, and head coach Thomas Tuchel will be under scrutiny when England return to international action in September in the UEFA Nations League.

So, how did his World Cup squad perform?

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford: His third World Cup in goal for England will always be remembered for the Azteca, where his crucial saves kept England in the game, he punched perfectly and ran down the clock at the end. It was a moment as memorable as his famous save from Carlos Bacca in Moscow eight years ago. Pickford has been an integral player through this England era, but he will know that he was not perfect at this tournament. He was beaten at his near post by Brian Cipenga in the last 32, a goal that would be remembered forever had England not turned it round. Against Norway he misjudged Andreas Schjelderup’s cross, putting England in a difficult position. Then in the semi-final Pickford was beaten by Enzo Fernandez from distance, the goal that precipitated England’s exit. The question as England embark on their next cycle is whether there is true competition for him. B-

Dean Henderson: Came in cold for the France game and could easily have conceded more than the four goals he shipped in Miami, making some fine saves. Has his strengths but will never be as good with his feet as Pickford. B-

James Trafford: The third-choice goalkeeper did not get on the field. N/A

Defenders

John Stones: Tuchel had spent his whole tenure planning to build around Stones, knowing that the 32-year-old offers him things that no other centre-back can. So it was a surprise then that he was benched after the Croatia game and did not feature again until the knock-outs. But his experience was vital in the Azteca rearguard, earning him a return to the starting 11. The way he closed down Alexander Sorloth in Miami kept England alive in the quarter-final when they were wobbling. If this is his last tournament — he insisted before the play-off he wanted to keep going — it was a reminder that he is probably England’s finest centre-back of the modern era. B+

Marc Guehi: Came off the bench for the opening game against Croatia and then played every subsequent minute (of the competitive games), keeping his place at centre-back even when Stones returned. Was important to impressive defensive performances against Norway and Mexico, always able to maintain his calm presence in difficult moments. B

Ezri Konsa: One of Tuchel’s most dependable players at this World Cup. He started the first five games at centre-back, and was fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty at the end of the Ghana game in Boston. But he did a heroic shift out on the right during the Mexico City rearguard, and then kept his spot at right-back against Norway. Like Guehi, he was integral to England grinding their way to the semi-final. And while his introduction against Argentina was a tactical mis-step, that was not his fault. B

Trevoh Chalobah: Didn’t play a minute. N/A

Djed Spence: One of the surprises in Tuchel’s squad but one of more impressive performers, responding well to his coach’s pointed messaging. He started four games — three on the left, one on the right — but was more useful as an impact sub, coming on in the second half and using his speed to change the tempo of the game. Against Croatia he was incisive, setting up England on the break. At left wing-back in Mexico he was perfect. And then against Norway he helped to turn the tie with his surging runs, and should have won a penalty too. (He finally earned a penalty against France in the Bronze Final.) His tackle against Giuliano Simeone would have been one of the moments of the tournament, if the rest of the game had gone differently. B+

Jarell Quansah: Came to the World Cup as a centre-back but, when Tino Livramento went home before it started, Tuchel said that Quansah was now seen as a right-back. So he started there against Panama, before turning his ankle after an hour. He then came back into the starting XI away at Mexico and was doing well before getting sent off for a rash tackle which put England under severe pressure, as well as earning himself a two-game ban. C+

Nico O’Reilly: Left-back was a problem position for England coming into the tournament but O’Reilly established himself as first choice, starting five of England’s seven competitive games there. The left side did not always click as intended but he worked hard going forward, sometimes coming inside and making attacking runs from midfield. Was unfortunate in the opposition box, hitting the woodwork twice, but overall did well given that he only made his England debut last November. B

Reece James: A strange tournament. He arrived after recovering from a hamstring injury which kept him out for two months at the end of the season. He played England’s first two games here and then picked up another injury. He returned to play an important role in midfield against Norway, helping to stem the flow, before returning to right-back for the Argentina game. But after so much time in and out of the team, he looked far from his best. C+

Midfielders

Declan Rice: Came into this World Cup on a high, having won the Premier League with Arsenal, and being named England vice-captain. But this season took more out of him than many realised. He never looked himself, despite starting seven games, and was withdrawn early against Croatia and Norway. He was unfortunate to pick up a stomach bug on top of the neural pain he was managing, but his uncharacteristic performances — not for lack of effort — underlined the extent to which England had no real replacement for him. C+

Declan Rice was struggling with injury and illness (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Elliot Anderson: It feels remarkable that Anderson only made his senior England debut last September. Had a huge midfield role given Rice’s struggles but coped fantastically, setting the tempo for England in the middle of the pitch and driving them forward. Never more so than for the first hour of the Argentina game, where he had to be perfect after picking up an unfortunate booking. Will be an England starter in the middle of the pitch for years to come. A

Jordan Henderson: Only played a few minutes, helping to close out the win over Panama. But was still an important member of the squad, invaluable behind the scenes, setting standards and trying to keep everyone together. The fact that he broke his wrist in the celebrations at the Azteca, had surgery and then returned to the England camp was further proof of his commitment. B

Jude Bellingham: England’s best player and one of the very best at the tournament. Answered all the questions about his attitude, team ethic and role with a series of brilliant performances. More than a No 10, he played as a box-to-box midfielder and a devastating striker simultaneously, ending up with seven goals, the most scored by any England player at a World Cup. Showcased athleticism scoring against Croatia, intelligence against Panama, ruthlessness with the double at the Azteca and then relentlessness with two against Norway. A+

Jude Bellingham scores his seventh goal of the tournament (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Kobbie Mainoo: Unfortunate to pick up a back injury before the France game, meaning that he did not play one single minute. N/A

Eberechi Eze: Did not get to start a game until the France play-off, but made five substitute appearances before then. Had some nice touches along the way, especially in the Bronze Final, and was important in the win over Norway. But for all his technical tidiness he rarely looked like he could quite make the difference that England needed. He is simply less dynamic than the alternative 10s, Bellingham and Rogers, and not as quick as the wide left options Gordon and Rashford. C

Forwards

Anthony Gordon: The best attacking player not called Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham. Won the battle with Marcus Rashford to start on the left, but after a quiet two games he lost it again. Two assists for Kane against DR Congo were a turning point, he ran himself into the ground in Mexico and then produced England’s only goal in the semi-final. Under different circumstances it would have been one of the most important goals in English history. B+

Morgan Rogers: Before the World Cup he was battling with Bellingham to be the starting 10 but he ended up playing more of a bit-part role in the tournament, though he was always lively when called upon. Started in midfield against Panama, but struggled to make a big impact. Helped to turn the Norway game with his energy in the middle, including the shot which Bellingham converted for the winner. Was rewarded for his efforts with a starting spot on the right against Argentina, and set up Anthony Gordon’s goal. B

Noni Madueke: Saka’s injury problems meant that he played more than expected, starting four of the six competitive games. Twice he lost his place to Saka, and then twice he came back in. Was always a willing runner and a good outlet when England needed to get up the pitch, staying high and wide as Tuchel wanted, attacking the space in behind. But he never got it right with his technical execution. Very few of Madueke’s crosses ever turned into chances, and his struggles against Norway meant he did not even get on the pitch in the semi-final. C

Bukayo Saka: His fitness was one of the stories of the campaign, as he struggled to shake off an Achilles issue that had troubled him during the club season. He had some good moments, not least his cross for the first goal in the Azteca. But he clearly struggled to go for the whole 90 minutes and it was telling that Tuchel did not bring him on against Argentina when England needed to change the energy. The fact that he then scored a hat-trick against France in the Bronze Final, going the full 90 minutes, suggests that he may have had enough in his legs to make a difference. C+

Bukayo Saka did not feature as regularly as he wanted (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Marcus Rashford: One of Tuchel’s big projects since he took the job, so much work was invested into trying to get Rashford performing here at his top level. But apart from his goal from the bench against Croatia, he did not offer enough. His final third execution was off and he did contribute nearly as much without the ball as Gordon did. So he lost his place after getting hooked against DR Congo and was not involved at all against Mexico and Norway. Only got a few desperate minutes against Argentina, before returning with another dangerous first half display in the Bronze Final. C

Harry Kane: Matched his tally of six goals from the 2018 World Cup, putting him clear as England’s greatest tournament goalscorer. His performance in the DR Congo game in Atlanta will go down as one of his best ever, rescuing England from an embarrassing early exit with two goals, the second of which was a brilliant strike. But the frustrating thing, given how well he started, is that he faded after that. He scored a penalty in Mexico City but could not influence the Norway or Argentina games. And was left, not for the first time, frustrated by his inability to turn the very biggest games his way. A-

Ivan Toney: Only had a few minutes against Argentina to make an impact N/A

Ollie Watkins: Like Toney, did not have the opportunity to make a difference. N/A