England half-time player ratings from disastrous half against Slovakia

England’s Euro 2024 hopes are hanging by a thread after Ivan Schranz’s goal handed Slovakia a deserved half-time lead in their last 16 clash in Gelsenkirchen.

The pressure was on Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions to prove their mounting critics wrong after a tired, laboured group stage showing yielded just one win in three games. Draws against Denmark and Slovenia were pretty painful to watch, with Southgate’s team selection, tactics and unwillingness to be more adventerous drawing the ire of pundits and supporters alike.

Heavy favourites against Slovakia, England made just one change to their starting lineup – Kobbie Mainoo coming into the side to replace Conor Gallagher. But despite his positive impact in midfield, England looked all at sea in the first 45 minutes against Slovakia.

Their sloppiness in possession and poor-decision making cost Marc Guehi an early booking – ruling him out of a potential quarter-final tie with Switzerland – and Mainoo and Jude Bellingham were also shown yellow cards in a frantic first 15 minutes.

Slovakia had already got in-behind a couple of times by the time John Stones and Guehi miscommunicated to give Slovakia the lead. The pair went up for the same aerial ball, which neither were unable to win, and David Strelec’s pass was latched onto by Schranz.

He coasted away from the retreating Guehi, who was unable to make a challenge after his early caution, and slotted the ball past the sprawling Jordan Pickford from close range – England’s goalkeeper immediately fuming by the standard of the defending in front of him.

Things weren’t any better further up field as Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in particular struggled to have any kind of positive impact on the game. England’s final ball was dismal when it really mattered, leaving the players to shrug their shoulders as they strode into the dressing room at half-time staring down the barrel of a humiliating exit from Euro 2024.

GK: Jordan Pickford – 5/10 – Must be completely bewildered by what’s going on in front of him. No chance with the goal.

RB: Kyle Walker – 3/10 – Just doesn’t add anything to England’s attack whatsoever. Rapid recovery pace just doesn’t justify ongoing selection.

CB: John Stones – 3/10 – No communication whatsoever with Guehi for Slovakia’s goal. A rookie…