Kane scores winner but who else made an impression? England player ratings

What the report says

England beat Croatia in a Nations League match, with Harry Kane scoring the decisive penalty and also reaching another milestone in his international career. BBC Sport’s player ratings piece, written by senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, assessed how each England player performed in the game and highlighted the key moments that shaped the contest.

The report said the win came in a tight, relatively low-scoring match in which England were not always at their sharpest, but several players stood out. Lewis Hall was among the better performers at left-back, while Declan Rice was credited with controlling midfield after returning from injury. Morgan Rogers also drew praise for his threat on the right and for scoring, adding to his growing senior England contribution.

There was also criticism in the ratings for Jarell Quansah, whose mistake led to Croatia’s equaliser. Jordan Pickford was noted as having been exposed by that error, though he otherwise offered his usual reliability. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn all received more measured reviews, reflecting a generally solid but uneven England display.

The article matters because it combines the result with an individual assessment of England’s squad depth, form and possible first-choice options ahead of future international fixtures. It also underlines Kane’s continued importance, both as a scorer and as a record-setter for England.