England’s Commanding Victory at Wembley
England continued their perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ukraine at Wembley Stadium. The Three Lions produced a professional performance, with Bukayo Saka stealing the show with a goal and an assist. Our Crickex experts break down each player’s contribution in this comprehensive analysis.
Defensive Masterclass
Jordan Pickford – 7/10
The Everton goalkeeper had one of his quieter nights in an England shirt. Pickford’s distribution was excellent throughout, including several pinpoint long passes that initiated attacking moves. While untested in terms of saves, his commanding presence helped organize England’s backline.
Kyle Walker – 8/10
Facing Chelsea’s rapid winger Mykhailo Mudryk, the Manchester City defender showed why he remains England’s first-choice right-back. Walker’s recovery pace and positional awareness neutralized Ukraine’s most dangerous attacker completely.
John Stones – 8/10
The Manchester City center-back delivered another composed performance. Stones made a crucial early block to deny Ruslan Malinovsky and was impeccable in possession throughout. His partnership with Maguire continues to grow stronger.
Harry Maguire – 7/10
Despite limited defensive work, Maguire posed a constant threat from set-pieces. The Manchester United captain won several aerial duels and nearly scored with two late headers. His passing was mostly accurate, barring a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes.
Ben Chilwell – 7/10
The Chelsea left-back seized his opportunity in Luke Shaw’s absence. Chilwell provided width and delivered several dangerous crosses, while remaining solid defensively. His set-piece delivery caused Ukraine problems all night.
Midfield Control
Declan Rice – 7/10
West Ham’s midfield general was typically efficient, breaking up play and recycling possession intelligently. Rice made several important interventions when Ukraine threatened to counter, showcasing his defensive awareness.
Jordan Henderson – 7/10
The Liverpool captain provided experience and energy in midfield. Henderson’s perfectly weighted cross set up Saka‘s spectacular strike, demonstrating his continued importance to Gareth Southgate’s setup.
Jude Bellingham – 7/10
After his stellar performance against Italy, this was a quieter game for the teenage sensation. However, Bellingham still showed flashes of brilliance, including a mesmerizing second-half run past three opponents.
Attacking Brilliance
James Maddison – 8/10
Making his first England start, the Leicester playmaker created five chances – the most by an England debutant since Theo Walcott in 2008. Maddison’s movement and creativity caused Ukraine constant problems.
Bukayo Saka – 9/10
The Arsenal winger was simply unplayable. After setting up Harry Kane’s opener with a perfect cross, Saka scored a sensational curling effort to cap a man-of-the-match performance. His direct running terrorized Ukraine’s defense all game.
Harry Kane – 8/10
England’s record goalscorer added another to his tally with a typical poacher’s finish. Kane’s all-round play was excellent, dropping deep to link play and creating space for teammates. A complete center-forward performance.
Impact Substitutes
Ivan Toney – 7/10
The Brentford striker made his long-awaited England debut and immediately showed his quality with some clever link-up play. Toney’s physical presence offered England a different dimension in the closing stages.
Jack Grealish – N/A
Limited time to make an impact but nearly scored with a late effort that forced a good save.
Conor Gallagher – N/A
The Chelsea midfielder almost marked his cameo with a goal, but his shot was straight at the keeper.
Looking Ahead: England’s Euro 2024 Qualifying Path
With this victory, England maintain their perfect start to Group C. Our Crickex analysts highlight the remaining fixtures:
- June 16 – Malta vs England
- June 19 – England vs North Macedonia
- September 9 – Ukraine vs England
- October 17 – England vs Italy
- November 17 – England vs Malta
- November 20 – North Macedonia vs England
Harry Kane celebrates his record-extending 55th goal for England
Final Thoughts from Crickex
This comprehensive victory showcased England’s depth and quality. While Bukayo Saka rightfully takes the plaudits, the team performance was excellent across all departments. Gareth Southgate will be particularly pleased with how his new additions like Maddison and Toney integrated seamlessly.
The challenge now is maintaining this level in the upcoming qualifiers. With the squad blending youth and experience so effectively, England fans have every reason to be optimistic about their Euro 2024 prospects. Stay tuned to Crickex for more in-depth analysis of England’s journey to Germany!
