With the rise of players such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, England have been in the mix at this World Cup, but on the other hand, players like Anthony Gordon and Reece James have experienced an unforgettable tournament.
Jude Bellingham celebrates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup match against England (Image: Jussi Eskola/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel hasn’t had much luck with his team at the World Cup, to say the least. Some great performers and winners. And some unfortunate things. On the other hand, there are some people who haven’t even looked inside.
Throughout the three group matches, teams and performances were mixed. The Three Lions got off to a strong start, defeating Croatia four times and picking up three points against their toughest opponent.
This was followed by a lethargic performance against Ghana, where England were criticized for failing to score the winning goal, but the Africans held on and secured a goalless draw.
They were expected to get three points against Panama, but there were calls for three more points based on their performance. Still, it was enough to finish top of the group and put England on track to face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the knockout stages, with several players expected to step up.
Let’s take a look at the winners and losers of the World Cup so far.
winner
Written by John Cross
jude bellingham
The biggest winner of all. He could have easily been man of the match in all three of England’s games (Harry Kane’s brace earned him his first official gong against Croatia), but two out of three isn’t bad. He has produced world-class performances in a variety of midfield positions and carried England on his back with his superb midfield play. wonderful.
harry kane
3 goals and counting. He currently stands as England’s record goalscorer for the World Cup overall and at the World Cup. He was off for the second game but turned up when England needed him most. He’s a great player and leader. If there is one criticism, it is that he has fallen too far in this tournament. England need him in the box. Truly a great man.
Harry Kane continues to aim for Golden Boot award (Image: Anadolu 2026)
Elliot Anderson
We are having a great tournament. Manager Thomas Tuchel asked if the transfer talks would affect him, but he insisted they did not. And he did great things to live up to his word. He looks very good in possession. He looks like a big money player, you could argue for more than £116m, but he has really stepped up.
Declan Rice
He was good in the first game, looked a little struggling in the second, but when he didn’t play in the third it became clear how much England needed him. Many of England’s players are coming into this tournament with injuries or other issues, but Rice is essential to Tuchel and they need him too.
mark gehi
He is also one of those players who showed his quality even when he wasn’t playing! England missed him when Konsa and Stones started ahead of them in the first leg. He is a top quality player who looks calm and strong. He calms down the rest of the defense.
Marc Gehi and Ezri Konsa play key roles in England’s defense (Image: JON OLAV NESVOLD/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock)
Ezri Konsa
He is consistent and a reliable defender for Tuchel in a variety of roles, and England can rely on him. He is a top quality player, although he may not sometimes get the recognition and respect he deserves.
Nico O’Reilly
I’m a big O’Reilly fan. I thought he was severely dropped after the first game (it was on the left wing), but England were the better of him in the third game. He’s good, he’s aggressive, he’s much better technically than Jed Spence, and he deserves to be in there.
Noni Maduke
He looked sharp, quick, and dangerous. Yes, we are still talking about the final product. But he was decent from the start and active off the bench. And overall things are going well. We will hold a fulfilling tournament.
marcus rashford
In the first match, he played well as one of England’s “finishers” and scored a goal, and in the third match he performed well from the start. There’s no doubt he hasn’t convinced Tuchel yet, but that’s true of the entire left flank. He’s doing better than Gordon.
Marcus Rashford performed well off the bench (Image: ANP via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka
See above. He came on as a substitute in the first game and was sharp and intelligent, making a big impact and making a difference. You’d have to stretch your eyes to say he was at his best in his third game as a starter (he’s clearly struggling with fitness issues around his Achilles tendon), but he still oozes quality.
Ivan Tony
Now, you’re thinking: Oh my god, he hasn’t been tested. But this is a classic case of a player gaining fame by not playing. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. If we’re talking about a winner, he’s right there. Because in the finals, England will need his quality, his penalties and his aura when the going gets tough.
loser
Written by Ryan Taylor
jordan pickford
He looked unsteady and didn’t have his usual steady appearance. He seems intent on getting off his line and takes too long to hold on to the ball on long clearances.
Dean Henderson
Pickford has looked unstable, but barring injury, he is unlikely to get any playing time now that the group stage is over. If the top spot had been decided before Panama, he would have played.
Jordan Pickford remains England’s No. 1 (Image: MB Media/Getty Images)
james trafford
No one expected him to play, but it seems unlikely he will get any playing time. Like Henderson, he could have played against Panama if England had won against Ghana, but Tuchel could not afford to rest and rotate.
Dan Byrne
He never had a kick, but judging by his Instagram posts, he was clearly enjoying the ride. He loves country music, so it’s hard to watch from the sidelines, but he’s enjoying the adventure of a lifetime.
Jed Spence
He’s currently near the top of the full-back pecking order, but there’s a sense he hasn’t really gotten his chance. Thomas Tuchel wants more from his Tottenham defender and feels he can still improve.
Jarrell Quansah
It’s a really big setback to get injured after Reece James and Tino Libramento. Perhaps twisting his ankle after starting against Panama couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Trevor Chalobah
It would be great to have him in the squad, but realistically it’s unlikely he’ll play. If you’re in a team you want to feel like part of it and it’s perhaps surprising that Chalobah was seen less as a right-back than Quansah.
Reece James
James said he was tired of talking about his fitness and insisted the struggles were a thing of the past. He currently faces a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury that has put his participation in the tournament in doubt.
john stones
Stones successfully convinced Tuchel that he deserved a place in the starting XI against Croatia. However, he was exposed by Martin Baturina’s equalizer and has been on the bench twice since then.
Coby Mainu
I haven’t even played a minute and it feels like my teeth are hurting. He was scheduled to start against Panama but did not come on as Declan Rice was rested.
jordan henderson
He’s obviously been around camp to promote standards and maintain harmony within the team, but he’s only played six minutes. He would feel he could contribute more, but that is unlikely given the strength of England’s midfield.
Anthony Gordon struggled at the World Cup (Image: Getty Images)
anthony gordon
He was disqualified in the match against Ghana and was overwhelmed in the match against Croatia. In this form, Barcelona must be wondering why they rushed to sign a £69m deal.
Eberechi Eze
Although he played some playing time, he was unable to make a noticeable impact off the bench. Even as England struggled to break down their opponents’ defence, Tuchel did not rely on Arsenal’s attackers in a hurry.
ollie watkins
Harry Kane was really underwhelming against Ghana, but Watkins will still be used as an unused sub. He played just six minutes in the group stage match against Panama, but it felt a bit harsh.
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