Football Features

Scotland 1-3 England: Player ratings as Foden “magic” and Bellingham silence Hampden Park

By Harry Edwards

Published: 21:46, 12 September 2023

England have the bragging rights over bitter rivals Scotland thanks to a 3-1 win on Tuesday night.

After a nervy opening 30 minutes, England scored two goals in quick succession through Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham to gain full control of this game.

England looked comfortable but Harry Maguire’s own goal allowed Scotland back into the game, but Harry Kane put paid to any comeback with a late strike.

Here’s how the players rated at Hampden Park:

 

Scotland

Angus Gunn – 7 – Couldn’t do anything about any of the goals but was always very quick off his line to sweep up long balls over the top. Produced good saves to deny Eze and Bellingham in the second half.

Ryan Porteous – 6 – Did his best up against Rashford and had a few good defensive moments early on. Went to the near post for Foden’s goal, opening up some space for the Englishman.

Jack Hendry – 5 – Defended well to stop Walker’s cross from getting to Kane early on but was left standing in the middle of his box, allowing Foden the space to get his goal.

Kieran Tierney – 5 – Looked to have got a vital touch on Foden’s initial cross to stop it going to Kane, or at least the action put him off. Unfortunately it still led to a goal with Robertson’s mistake. Was a bit weak defensively.

Aaron Hickey – 6 – Up against it facing Rashford, and didn’t get forward as much as he would have liked in the first half. Got involved more in the second half but was still frustrated. One of the few Scotland players who could hold their head up high.

Scott McTominay – 4 – Looked comfortable in midfield in the opening stages but then things started to slip. Let Rashford get past him without a challenge in the build up to England’s second. A let down in the midfield considering his form for Scotland going into this game.

John McGinn – 5 – Was hardly involved in the first half, chasing shadows when England had the ball. Got forward a lot more with Scotland smelling blood in the second half and should have tested Ramsdale having got onto the end of Robertson’s cross.

Andrew Robertson – 4 – Up for his battle against Walker but made a crucial mistake for the second goal. Caught in two minds between clearing and playing out from the back, Robertson got his feet mixed up inside his own box, instead assisting Bellingham. Was important to Scotland getting back into the game, running against Trippier and sending a ball into the box for Maguire to put past Ramsdale. There were some questions about his role in Kane’s goal.

Billy Gilmour – 5 – Like McTominay, Gilmour let Rashford get past him without much of a challenge. Had Scotland’s first real effort of the second half but it curled comfortably wide. Couldn’t make an impact on the midfield.

Callum McGregor – 5 – After McTominay and Gilmour were beaten, McGregor did manage to dispossess Rashford but got unlucky with the bounce rebounding to an England player. Got involved more in the second half.

Che Adams – 4 – Took Scotland going 2-0 down for him to get involved in the game but his influence was fleeting. A really isolated match.

Substitutes:

Ryan Christie (for Adams 59) – 6 – Added dynamism that Scotland were missing in the first half, looking really dangerous.

Lyndon Dykes (for Gilmour 60) – 6 – A bigger threat through the middle than the man he replaced.

Lewis Ferguson (for Tierney 82) – N/A – A late sub.

Stuart Armstrong (for McGinn 82) – N/A – A late sub.

Ryan Jack (for McGregor 89) – N/A – A late sub.

Nathan Patterson (for Hickey 90) – N/A – A late sub.

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England

Aaron Ramsdale – 6 – His passing looked decent but he really didn’t have much to do. Unfortunately beaten by Maguire.

Kyle Walker – 8 – Looked to get forward a lot, even more than usual after his goal at the weekend. Fired an effort wide and then sent a cross-cum-shot across the box that was diverted in. He was marvellous, again.

Lewis Dunk – 8 – Tried to break the Scotland lines with long balls over the top and looked incredibly solid defensively. Produced a good block to stop Hickey’s shot.

Marc Guehi – 7 – Was the man to push out and defend on the front foot, while also testing his passing range. Interestingly taken off at half time.

Kieran Trippier – 7 – Played on the left, Trippier was a bit reserved, leaving most of the attacking to Rashford.

Kalvin Phillips – 7 – Wasn’t up to speed in the early stages but grew into the game, getting across the pitch and showing some good passes.

Declan Rice – 7 – A standard Declan Rice performance.

Phil Foden – 8 – Sent a shot way over the bar early on and was put on set pieces to try and test the Scotland defence. Put England ahead, diverting Kyle Walker’s cross-cum-shot past Gunn. “He knows exactly, exactly, what he’s doing here by the way, that’s magic,” Ally McCoist said on commentary. He then put a dangerous ball into box ahead of Bellingham’s goal.

Jude Bellingham – 9 – Before the game, Graeme Souness stated that Bellingham was only starting because he plays for Real Madrid. In this game he showed why he plays for Real Madrid. Influential in the middle of the pitch, Bellingham played a brilliant pass into Rashford in the box in the build up to Foden’s goal. Moments later he made it 2-0, capitalising on Robertson’s mistake. Did mess up a counter with the chance to further extend England’s lead but it was his beautiful footwork and pass that set up Kane late on. After the game, Souness had to concede: “He’s got everything that young boy. He’s got absolutely everything. At 20-years-old how could can he be? As long as he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”


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Marcus Rashford – 8 – Was the target of England’s balls over the top, but took a little while for him to time his runs properly. When he did, he was on the receiving end of Bellingham’s pass with a lovely little flick to Walker in build up to first goal. Fantastic.

Harry Kane – 7 – Dropping deep as you’d expect, he wasn’t much of a threat inside the box but he gave Scotland a lot to think about. And when he did get his opportunity, Kane made Scotland pay.

Substitutes:

Harry Maguire (for Guehi 45) – 3 – Came off the bench to half Scotland’s deficit, putting the ball into his own net. The first own goal in this fixture since 1974. England looked weaker defensively with him on the pitch, even without the own goal.

Bukayo Saka (for Foden 71) – 6 – Gave his Arsenal clubmate Tierney a couple of scares.

Eberechi Eze (for Rashford 72) – 6 – Should have restored England’s two-goal advantage after a great first touch but his finish was saved by Gunn.

Callum Wilson (for Kane 84) – N/A – A late sub.

Conor Gallagher (for Bellingham 84) – N/A – A late sub.

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