Jude Bellingham has been England’s best World Cup performer – he’s the only 10/10 star and is destined to succeed Harry Kane as captain.
But the less said of Noni Madueke the better, with the Arsenal winger given a measly 4/10 having looked out of his depth in North America.
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Gift of the Gab
Those are the opinions of ex-Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor, who has rated and slated the Three Lions as they prepare for their semi-final clash with Argentina at 8pm UK time on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old, who earned three caps for the Three Lions between 2008-2009, didn’t mince his words when discussing Thomas Tuchel’s heroes.
England have lived up to their billing so far as one of the pre-tournament favourites by sealing their spot in just their fourth ever World Cup semi-final.
For the first time in World Cup history, the top four ranked FIFA nations have progressed into the last four.
And a battle with old rivals Argentina now stands in England’s way of reaching a first World Cup final since they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in 1996.
It is the first time in 24 years that England are gearing up to pit their wits against the South American giants in the global tournament.
Argentina might be the World Cup holders but it is England that are the marginal favourites to emerge victorious in Atlanta.
Argentina have scraped past Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland in the knockout stages so far, with England grinding out wins over DR Congo, Mexico and Norway, each by one goal.
The stage is set for what has the potential to be a game of the tournament contender, with Argentina the top scorers with 17 goals – eight of which have been fired in by skipper Lionel Messi.
And ahead of the clash, eSPORTY’s Gabby Agbonlahor took a leaf out of colleague Adrian Durham’s book and dissected the performances of England’s most used players across the pond so far.
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Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford is the only goalkeeper that has featured between the sticks, with the Everton shot-stopper creating World Cup history against Norway.
The quarter-final tie was his 18th outing in the competition since making his tournament debut in 2018 – becoming England’s most capped goalkeeper at World Cups having previously held the record with Peter Shilton.
His standout match so far was against co-hosts Mexico, where he expertly denied Raul Jimenez twice in the first half.
Commenting on Pickford on the World Cup Breakfast show, Agbonlahor said: “I’ve got to give him an eight so far in the tournament.
“I think he’s been solid throughout, a bit shaky maybe against Norway, but he has been solid.”
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Centre-back
Despite John Stones starting in England’s opener and against Norway last time out, Tuchel has preferred the centre-back pairing of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa.
Having his say on Manchester City’s Guehi, Agbonlahor stated: “I think he has been consistent, I’m going to give him an eight as well.
“Every game he’s played in, he’s been solid, people will say maybe he can do a bit better in the air against Norway.”
Switching over to Konsa, who plays for his beloved Villa, and Agbonlahor awarded the ex-Charlton man his second highest rating – behind only Bellingham.
He remarked: “Konsa, I’m going to give a nine, I think Konsa has been our best defender in this tournament.
“I said it before the tournament Konsa starts, many people were saying, ‘No, Konsa doesn’t start, it’s Stones and Guehi,’ no.
“Konsa has been versatile, at right-back as well against Norway, put in a hell of a shift, he’s our best defender.”
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Full-back
England have been plagued by full-back issues in North America, with Reece James being hampered by a hamstring injury, while Jarell Quansah is currently halfway through a two-game ban for a red card he picked up against Mexico.
Citizens left-back Nico O’Reilly has started in five of England’s six games, but has struggled to replicate the form he showed at the Etihad across the 2025/26 campaign.
Agbonlahor said of the 21-year-old: “I’m going to give a seven, I think he’s been steady as well.
“Probably could do better going forward, but defensively, he’s been solid.”
As for James, who made his return off the bench to face Norway, Agbonlahor noted: “I’m going to give a six, he’s done OK when he’s played.
“Obviously injury problems, but he’s got to do better, I think at times his crosses have been hitting the first man.”
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Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Djed Spence has been used in both full-back positions.
Commenting on the player, Agbonlahor said: “I’m going to give a six, he has been shaky at times.
“But when he’s at it and in one-v-one, he’s a top defender, and he will be a big part of what we do in the next two games hopefully.”
Midfield maestros
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have been the preferred pairing in the middle of the pitch, with the former missing just one game so far – the 2-0 win over Panama in England’s final Group L game.
Though Rice, who has been playing through the pain barrier while also battling sickness, hasn’t impressed Agbonlahor with one aspect of his game.
He said: “I’m going to give him a six, I think he’s been steady, but the set pieces for me, they’ve been so poor.
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“That’s what he’s been doing [so well] at Arsenal all season, we haven’t seen those set pieces for England.”
As for Anderson, Agbonlahor remarked: “[He] 100 per cent deserves an eight, I think his performance against Norway was the best of the tournament.
“And I just feel he’s been fantastic, some of the crossfield balls he was pinging against Norwayโฆ he’s been our best [central] midfielder.”
Moving onto Bellingham in the No. 10 position, and the Real Madrid star has been given the only perfect rating.
Bellingham boasts the most open play goals of any Englishman in World Cup history, while he is the second youngest player to score back-to-back braces in the knockouts.
Waxing lyrical over the ex-Birmingham starlet, Agbonlahor purred: “He’s the one player who’s got a ten.
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“Six goals, his work rate, creativity, people convincingly saying that there’s [Zinedine] Zidane in him, I agree.
“I think he’s our next captain as well, I think he’s been outstanding, and at 23 years of age, he’s just going to get better as well.”
Right wing
Madueke, who has started four World Cup matches, is yet to provide a goal or assist so far, with his end product – and place in the team – heavily questioned.
Given the lowest rating out of anyone in the England squad, Agbonlahor commented: “I’m going to give a four, I think he’s looked poor whenever he’s played.
“Is he a player that maybe you can bring on for 20 minutes with his pace?
“But he hasn’t looked at the level, and maybe that’s one of the players that misses out in the next game.”
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His Gunners teammate Bukayo Saka could now replace him in the line-up to face Argentina, with the Hale End graduate having his minutes managed due to an Achilles issue.
Despite making just two starts, he has still chipped in with three assists, with only Michael Olise [5], Martin Odegaard [4], Bruno Guimaraes [4] and Brahim Diaz [4] supplying more.
Agbonlahor said of Saka: “I’m going to give him a seven, playing half fit, but still looks a lot better than a fit Madueke.
“He’s going to be an important player for us as well, hopefully, tomorrow night.”
Left wing
Not only has Gordon replaced Marcus Rashford at Barcelona following his ยฃ70million move from Newcastle, but also his spot in Tuchel’s XI.
Having also laid on three assists alongside Saka, Gordon is still searching for his first goal at a major international tournament.
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Marking him down for a lack of consistency, Agbonlahor stated: “I’m going to give a six, I think he’s had some really good games, but some really poor games.
“Last game against Norway, he got dragged [in the 71st minute], didn’t do enough.
“We need some more consistency from Anthony Gordon.”
But perhaps Agbonlahor’s most controversial rating is for skipper Kane, who is level with Bellingham on six goals for the tournament.
Despite scoring in four of England’s six matches, with winners against DR Congo and Mexico, Agbonlahor has accused him of going missing on occasion.
He said: “I’m going to give an eight, I’m not going to give him a ten.
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“Scored six goals, but there’s been games where he’s not been in.
“Against Norway, didn’t do enough during that game.
“I feel like Harry Kane deserves an eight, I’m not going to give him any higher.”
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