England player ratings: Danny Mills' verdict after 3-2 win over Spain
Tuesday 16 October 2018 06:04, UK
Danny Mills gives his verdict after England recorded a famous 3-2 UEFA Nations League victory over Spain in Seville on Monday.
Raheem Sterling ended a three-year international goal drought with a double, and Marcus Rashford scored his sixth international goal between the two strikes of his team-mate, as England raced into a three-goal lead at the break.
Paco Alcacer pulled one back on 58 minutes and Sergio Ramos added another deep into second half stoppage-time, though the Spain captain's header was the final touch of the game.
Former England defender Mills watched the game in the Sky Sports News studio and gave each of England's players a rating out of 10 after the full-time whistle...
Jordan Pickford - 6.5
The England stopper was outstanding in his delivery, playing out from the back and he set up the goals with his quick thinking and accurate passing. That would have got him an eight, but having said that, there were a couple of errors.
Trending
- Papers: Gravenberch set to stay at Liverpool amid Real Madrid links
- Gabriel Jesus is back! Hat-trick for Arsenal striker sinks Palace
- Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Saudi could offer Rashford way out of Man Utd'
- Nunez and Elliott strike as Liverpool battle past Southampton
- Vasseur: Convincing Hamilton to join Ferrari not difficult at all
- Man Utd latest: Rashford has not travelled for Carabao Cup tie - reports
- Hits and misses: Jesus, Elliott and Tonali all shine in Carabao Cup
- Perez leaves Red Bull seat as 2025 exit confirmed
- Italian job! Tonali brace inspires Newcastle past Brentford
- Retire? Fight AJ? What happens if Fury loses
One led to the corner that Alcacer scored from and he was very, very fortunate where he tried to be too clever in the box, tried a little Cruyff turn and then - in my opinion - brought down Rodrigo. It should've been a penalty, which would have made it 3-2 at the time and probably a red card as well.
Kieran Trippier - 6
We are used to seeing him get forward at every opportunity; bombing forward and getting crosses into the box but that couldn't happen this evening. A good, solid performance but he just didn't really have the opportunity to affect the game.
Joe Gomez - 8
I thought Gomez was very, very good in defence on his fifth outing for Gareth Southgate's side. Good, solid defending from the Liverpool man.
Harry Maguire - 6
I've seen him player better, in all honesty. He almost got caught out a couple of times and also picked himself up a booking for a rash sliding challenge on Dani Ceballos - it's that trailing leg that brings people down. Therefore, I'm tempted with a seven, but I'll go for a six, though it may be a little bit harsh.
Ben Chilwell - 6
He only touched the ball about 20 times at left-back but had an awful lot of defending to do, being disciplined at the back. He didn't do anything particularly wrong, but didn't have an opportunity to get on the ball and get forward.
Harry Winks - 6
It was a difficult night for Winks in Seville, I thought. He didn't get an awful lot of the ball, Spain dominated that midfield area in terms of possession and we didn't see enough of him going forward. Again, he was one that didn't do anything particularly wrong, but just wasn't on the ball enough to really impact the game.
Eric Dier - 6
Dier defended well at times, was a little bit rash in a couple of challenges and got himself booked early on with a sliding tackle. On another night - had the referee been a little bit harsher - he could've earned another yellow card and he would have walked, but again, it was difficult in that midfield area.
Ross Barkley - 7
Showed signs that he is a quality player, including his great little dink to Harry Kane at the far post, who then set up Raheem Sterling for the third of the evening. He is starting to grow into his role, I think.
Raheem Sterling - 9
I thought he was a threat all night and he got his two goals. The first finish was absolutely exceptional; touch out of his feet, bends the ball into the top corner. The second was a tap-in, but he had to be in the right place at the right time and it was a good gamble from him.
Marcus Rashford - 8
It was great for him to score, but he also played a fabulous ball through for Raheem Sterling in the build-up to the opening goal as well.
Harry Kane - 9
An exceptional performance. Kane led from the front, was involved in all of the goals and was really unselfish at times. He held the ball up incredibly well and brought people into the game so scores highly, for me, because he really was superb.
The substitutes
It was fantastic that Nathaniel Chalobah got his first cap, but he was barely on for minutes and I'm not sure he even touched the ball, so I think we will simply congratulate him on becoming a senior international. Kyle Walker came on to shore up the defence, but didn't really have too much to do, likewise with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
None of the substitutes really had an impact in the game, didn't have an awful lot to do and weren't really tested at either end of the pitch. Therefore, I don't think it would be fair to rate any of them out of 10.