UMVA has learned that England's recent match against Ghana was a nail-biter, with several players struggling to make an impact on the game.
Jordan Pickford, the English goalkeeper, had a relatively quiet night, but a moment of panic midway through the second half could have easily changed the course of the game. He was caught in no-man's land, and the decision went England's way, but the Ghana bench was furious.
Reece James, the Chelsea skipper, had a poor outing, failing to offer much offensively and getting caught up field when Ghana pounced. His performance was a letdown, especially considering his usual high standards.
Ezri Konsa, on the other hand, defended well, particularly against Antoine Semenyo, who cut inside on multiple occasions. Konsa played a crucial role in denying Ghana a late winner, putting pressure on Prince Adu when he had the goal gaping.
Marc Guehi was recalled to the side ahead of John Stones, but had a mediocre game, struggling to make a significant impact. His performance was a concern, especially given the high expectations surrounding him.
Djed Spence, who started ahead of Nico O'Reilly, offered a real presence down the left flank, going forward and keeping to his defensive duties. His energy and work rate were notable, but he could have done more to support his teammates.
Declan Rice, who had a massive workload for Arsenal last season, looked slightly jaded, failing to produce the telling pass when required. His performance was a disappointment, given his usual standards of excellence.
Elliot Anderson, the Nottingham Forest star, was the more inventive of the midfield pairing, playing 20 passes into the final third and having four shots on goal before being replaced. His creativity and vision were a welcome addition to the team.
Noni Madueke had another disappointing game, finding himself in good positions but struggling to pick out a teammate. His inability to get his head up and make decisive decisions cost him, and he did little to justify another start.
Jude Bellingham was a bright spot, driving his team forward and getting back to help out when his teammates were caught out of position. He looked the most likely to make something happen before being replaced by Morgan Rodgers.
Anthony Gordon had a quiet game, preferring to stay wide and not coming inside to shoot. He left Djed Spence on his own when Ghana mounted a forward, and his performance was a concern.
Harry Kane was largely suffocated by Ghana in the first period, getting just nine touches in the first half, with only two of them in the penalty area. He had the goal gaping in the final five minutes but hammered it over the bar, and his performance was a letdown.
