With less than four months remaining until England manager Thomas Tuchel must finalise his squad for the 2026 World Cup, competition for places has reached a fever pitch. In a new weekly series, Mirror Chief Football Writer John Cross delivers his latest England player ratings, analysing which stars are rising and falling in the national team's plans.
Intense Competition Across Every Position
The countdown to this summer's tournament in North America is intensifying, with Premier League and European talents battling for limited spots. Cross has observed recent performances from key contenders, including Marc Guehi, Phil Foden, and Nico O'Reilly for Manchester City against Tottenham's Dominic Solanke and Conor Gallagher. Additionally, he monitored Arsenal's Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Ben White, and Myles Lewis-Skelly during Champions League action preceding their 4-0 victory at Leeds.
Dominic Solanke: A Striking Revelation
Match Rating: 9/10
Solanke delivered what many are calling a game-changing performance, scoring twice with his second goal demonstrating exceptional quality. His all-round centre-forward display included effective hold-up play and determined battling, all witnessed by Thomas Tuchel. This outing has undoubtedly thrust him into serious contention.
Current Form: 7/10
With four goals in four games since returning, Solanke is displaying the form Tottenham have desperately needed. His excellent showing against Manchester City suggests momentum is building, potentially opening the door to World Cup selection.
England Squad Rating: 6/10
As England consider backup options to Harry Kane, Solanke presents a compelling case as a classic centre-forward. While Ollie Watkins might be preferred for different tactical approaches, Solanke's qualities certainly enhance his chances.
Phil Foden: Facing Uncertain Prospects
Match Rating: 5/10
Judging Foden's contribution as an 88th-minute substitute proves challenging. Introduced for minimal minutes during normal and injury time, he appeared ready and determined but couldn't unlock Manchester City's path to victory.
Current Form: 6/10
A more significant concern emerges regarding Foden's form, having been eased out by Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. With fierce competition at City limiting his minutes, regaining top form presents a substantial challenge.
England Squad Rating: 7/10
One major name will inevitably miss selection. The question remains whether it will be Bellingham, Rogers, Foden, or Palmer. Foden currently finds himself in genuine danger of exclusion.
Marc Guehi: Defensive Certainty
Match Rating: 7/10
Guehi's move to Manchester City in a blockbuster deal has strengthened their defensive line. Displaying calm assurance and quality on the ball, he experienced a minor controversy when Solanke's challenge resulted in a briefly awarded own goal, though this hardly detracts from his overall performance.
Current Form: 7/10
Guehi appears in strong form following his City transfer, making a positive impact that underscores his defensive quality.
England Squad Rating: 9/10
Guehi stands as an absolute certainty to start the World Cup in central defence, forming England's premier partnership with Ezri Konsa. Any initial doubts from Thomas Tuchel have been swiftly dispelled.
Other Notable Contenders
Conor Gallagher earned a 6/10 match rating for his tireless work rate against Manchester City, covering every blade of grass in a performance that might have caught Tuchel's eye. However, consistency and quality remain questions, resulting in a 5/10 England squad rating.
Nico O'Reilly demonstrated impressive versatility by starting in midfield rather than left-back, earning a 7/10 match rating. His current form stands at 5/10, but his 9/10 England squad rating suggests he's firmly in pole position for the left-back slot against Croatia.
Noni Madueke experienced contrasting performances, with a terrible 4/10 display against Kairat Almaty followed by a superb 7/10 current form rating at Leeds. His England squad rating of 7/10 places him potentially ahead of Jarrod Bowen, provided he secures sufficient game time.
Eberechi Eze receives a 6/10 match rating for a performance that divided opinion, while his current form stands at 5/10. With a 6/10 England squad rating, he risks becoming one of England's significant casualties despite his versatility.
Myles Lewis-Skelly earns a 6/10 match rating but faces diminishing prospects, reflected in his 5/10 England squad rating. Not being a first-choice club player presents a substantial barrier to international selection.
Ben White achieved a 7/10 match rating, appearing sharp and solid with excellent understanding alongside Bukayo Saka. However, his 3/10 England squad rating indicates he's unlikely to feature unless his form dramatically improves.
Complete England Player Ratings
John Cross's latest assessment ranks players out of ten based on their likelihood of making the final squad:
Goalkeepers
- Jordan Pickford: 10/10
- Dean Henderson: 8/10
- Nick Pope: 6/10
- James Trafford: 5/10
- Aaron Ramsdale: 3/10
Defenders
- Right Backs: Reece James (9/10), Trent Alexander-Arnold (5/10), Rico Lewis (4/10), Ben White (3/10)
- Left Backs: Nico O'Reilly (9/10), Tino Livramento (7/10), Lewis Hall (7/10), Djed Spence (6/10), Myles Lewis-Skelly (5/10), Luke Shaw (5/10), Jack Hinshelwood (4/10)
- Central Defenders: Ezri Konsa (9/10), Marc Guehi (9/10), Jarell Quansah (8/10), John Stones (7/10), Dan Burn (7/10), Trevoh Chalobah (6/10), Harry Maguire (5/10), Jarrad Branthwaite (4/10), Levi Colwill (3/10)
Midfielders and Forwards
- Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (10/10), Declan Rice (10/10), Jordan Henderson (9/10), Adam Wharton (6/10), Curtis Jones (6/10), Morgan Gibbs-White (6/10), Kobbie Mainoo (6/10), Conor Gallagher (5/10), Mason Mount (4/10), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (3/10)
- Right Forwards: Bukayo Saka (9/10), Noni Madueke (7/10), Jarrod Bowen (6/10)
- Left Forwards: Anthony Gordon (8/10), Marcus Rashford (8/10), Eberechi Eze (6/10)
- No10s: Morgan Rogers (9/10), Jude Bellingham (9/10), Phil Foden (7/10), Cole Palmer (6/10)
- Strikers: Harry Kane (10/10), Ollie Watkins (8/10), Dominic Solanke (6/10), Danny Welbeck (6/10), Liam Delap (5/10), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (5/10)
As Thomas Tuchel faces monumental selection decisions, these weekly ratings provide crucial insight into which players are strengthening their claims and which face uncertain futures ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
