After an outstanding team performance at this summer's European Championships, it wasn't to be for Gareth Southgate and his men.

England reached their first competitive final for 55 years – and this side can hold their heads high after writing their own history.

Football didn't quite come home, but each and every one of the players and staff have given the nation memories that will last a lifetime.

So how did the players perform overall for The Three Lions at this summer's tournament?

  • Jordan Pickford – 9

England's number one was a stand out performer throughout the entirety of the tournament. After playing every minute of the competition, the 27-year-old became the first goalkeeper in the history of the Euros to keep five clean sheets in the first five games.

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His only shaky performance came against Denmark, but all in all the shot-stopper was consistent, commanded his box, made big saves at big times, and also saved two penalties in the final shootout –  the Everton 'keeper saved 16 efforts excluding penalties and won the Golden Glove.

  • Luke Shaw – 8

After a great season for his club, the full-back continued his fine form into this summer's tournament. 

Shaw was one of England's most biggest attacking threats in every game that he played, and also contributed heavily to a solid backline.

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The 26-year-old contributed with three assists in his five appearances, and also gave the nation a moment to remember when he opened the scoring in the final.

  • John Stones – 8

The Barnsley-born defender was an ever-present figure in England's backline.

Before the tournament, Stones had shown signs of naivety when in an England shirt – but he carried on his fine form at club level from the 2020/21 season straight into the Euros, starting every game.

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The Manchester City centre-back won 33 ball recoveries and was unfortunate to not score against Scotland when his header bounced back off the post.

  • Harry Maguire – 8

After missing the opening two games due to injury, the Sheffield-born defender was a commanding presence for the remainder of the tournament and put in a man of the match display against Germany.

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As well as marshalling his fellow defenders through sticky situations, Maguire scored against Ukraine and converted his penalty in the shootout emphatically.

  • Kyle Walker – 8

One of England's finest players throughout the tournament and if any defender was to receive a 9 rating, it probably would have been him.

After being used as both a right-sided centre-back and a right-back, Walker showed his versatility and desire to defend.

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The Manchester City star was an extremely useful option to Southgate as his blistering pace to run back and cover allowed England that bit more freedom when going forward.

  • Kieran Tripper – 7

Another player whose versatility was used efficiently across the tournament – the Athletico Madrid man played five games and was used on both the left and right hand side of England's backline. 

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Trippier was used more in the latter stages of the competition as his team faced tougher opposition, with the 30-year-old expertly assisting the opener in the final against Italy.

  • Tyrone Mings – 7

The Aston Villa defender filled in superbly during the opening two group games in Maguire's absence.

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After being selected over both Conor Coady and Ben White to partner Stones, the Bath-born defender showed composure and assurance as he helped his side keep a clean sheet in both matches.

  • Reece James - 5

Despite finishing the Scotland game with 99% pass accuracy and blocking a shot off the line, the full-back didn't appear again throughout the entirety of the Championships.

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Perhaps it is more a sign of the strength in depth England have as opposed to the fact that Southgate didn't trust him enough to play again.

  • Kalvin Phillips – 8

The Leeds United midfielder had an outstanding tournament for a young man who is relatively inexperienced at international level.

"The Yorksire Pirlo" started every game, recovering 32 balls and winning 13 tackles – even more impressively, Phillips covered 83km, the second highest of any player in the tournament, shortly behind Jorginho.

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He also got the crucial assist in the opening match against Croatia, when he was utilised in a slightly more attacking role, highlighting his versatility and showing just why Southgate and Marcelo Bielsa are so fond of the 25-year-old.

  • Declan Rice – 8

The West Ham man consistently performed at a high level throughout this year's Euros, proving the doubters wrong after many questioned his selection at the start of the competition.

Rice recovered 28 balls and looked comfortable in and out of possession – leaving the tournament with an impressive 91% passing accuracy.

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He was a pivotal part of the reason why England were so solid defensively after he started every game, and the London-born midfielder showed courage in the final by bombing forward and taking on several Italians.

  • Mason Mount – 6

After an outstanding season in domestic football, Mount was virtually a nailed on selection – unfortunately, he didn't quite have the impact that everybody thought and hoped that he would.

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Having to self-isolate during the middle of a competition wouldn't have done the Chelsea man any favours, but he did start England's final three knockout matches without affecting the games in any real way.

  • Jack Grealish – 6

It seemed like the entirety of the nation was begging for Grealish to start games this past month, and perhaps they had a point.

Unfortunately for the Aston Villa captain, Southgate opted to use him as an impact sub – which worked to great affect in the Germany tie as he came on to have a huge impact in both goals and assist Harry Kane's first goal of the tournament.

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Despite sensationally turning the game around against the Germans, Grealish was barely used again – he was also brought off after being brought on in the semi-final when England looked to defend their lead.

  • Jordan Henderson – 6

After missing three months of football due to a heavy groin injury, the Liverpool Captain recovered just in time to get some minutes at this summer's Euros.

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The performances of Rice and Phillips meant that a semi-fit Henderson wouldn't start any of the matches, but he did score his first England goal in the Ukraine game and he came on in every knockout match to give his side that bit more experience to see out their leads.

  • Jadon Sancho – 6

The 21-year-old attacker has had two extremely impressive season at Borussia Dortmund but could not find his way into the side until the quarter-final against Ukraine – the ongoing transfer saga linking him with Manchester United perhaps had a part to play in this.

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When he did play against Ukraine after the deal was confirmed, however, Sancho had a great performance and took on several players with ease – unfortunately for him, many people will remember him for his penalty miss in the final shootout.

  • Phil Foden – 6

For a 21-year-old who has shown that he  possesses world-class ability across the past year or two, "The Stockport Messi" had a relatively underwhelming tournament.

This was partially down to the introduction of Bukayo Saka, however, when Foden was on a yellow card and Southgate seemed to not want to risk him missing the next round. Unfortunately for Foden, Saka's performance was good enough to keep him in the side.

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The Manchester City star did hit the post in the early stages against Croatia and looked to be one of England's most dangerous players, but the introduction of Saka and the fact that he picked up an injury before the final meant that we didn't get to see the same Foden that we see at club level.

  • Jude Bellingham – 6

It is fair to say that even if Bellingham wouldn't have played a single minute during this tournament that there was no doubt that he would go on to be an England Star for years and years to come.

But Southgate did provide him with minutes, bringing him off the bench on three occasions – and to the surprise of no England fans, the Dortmund man did not look out of place whatsoever.

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The Birmingham-born boy became the youngest player to ever feature at a European Championships, aged 17 years and 349 days – and when you pocket Luka Modrić for 30 minutes at such a young age, it is very clear that you have a huge talent on your hands.

  • Raheem Sterling – 9

After scoring winners in group-stage games against Croatia and the Czech Republic, the "Boy from Brent" went on to score a crucial opener against Germany.

Sterling continued to shine throughout the tournament, superbly assisting Kane's goal against Ukraine before winning the penalty against Denmark that ultimately sent England through to the final.

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The Manchester City star had struggled for form at the back end of the 2020/21 season, but he was unanimously the best and most important player for The Three Lions throughout the competition, and more than likely would have won Player of the Tournament had his side defeated Italy in the final.

  • Bukayo Saka – 8

Many people doubted Southgate's decision to include Saka in his squad for the Euros, but these doubts were quickly brushed aside when he put in a man-of-the-match display against the Czech Republic.

The 19-year-old continued to impress throughout the tournament, showing bravery and composure on the ball, alongside a willingness to take players on and leave them for dead.

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It is a shame that his tournament ended by missing the fifth penalty which confirmed Italy as champions of Europe – but the young Arsenal man has cemented himself in the hearts of the nation and will no doubt be a star for England in the years to come.

  • Harry Kane – 7

For a player who undoubtedly belongs in the world-class bracket, Kane had an underwhelming start to the tournament as he failed to score and have an impact in England's group stage matches.

Some people were even beginning to question whether he should be starting, but as usual, the World Cup Golden Boot winner proved the doubters wrong by bagging four goals in the knockout stages – including the winner against Denmark.

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The Tottenham star had zero impact in the final against Italy, so it is fair to say his performances ranged throughout the tournament – despite this, he still finished one goal behind the top scorers in Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick.

  • Marcus Rashford – 5

After struggling for form and struggling with injuries through the backend of the 2020/21 season, the Manchester United star only played 84 minutes across the entire competition.

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On a personal level, it was a tournament to forget for the 23-year-old as all his appearances were as a substitute, including the final in which his penalty bounced back off the post.

  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 5

Playing only 18 minutes of football across the Euros, Calvert-Lewin had very little time to have an impact whatsoever.

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He was always going to be second fiddle to captain Kane, and this was evident as he made two small cameos off the bench.

 

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