In our weekly series, the Mirror's Chief Football Writer John Cross gives his England player ratings after some interesting FA Cup showcases didn't quite go to plan for a couple of Three Lions stars
After returning to the England fold, Ben White had a torrid evening against Southampton
After returning to the England fold, Ben White had a torrid evening against Southampton
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Ben White must be wondering whether it was all worth it.
The Arsenal defender played happily for three-and-a-half years without opposing fans giving a hoot let alone a jeer. But White put himself back in the spotlight for England. Was hero and villain against Uruguay. Poor against Japan.
Yet all the talk and the Wembley crowd put booing back on the agenda - and, sure enough, he got booed at Southampton. For no good reason, really. That just compounded a bad day for him and Myles Lewis-Skelly. They were poor and Noni Madueke failed to make an impression.
Cole Palmer was given the armband by Chelsea which felt quite pointed after Enzo Fernandez was left in disgrace, Marc Cucurella was also on the naughty step and even Moises Caicedo was on the bench.
It is hard to judge against Port Vale but Palmer did well and maybe he has some upward momentum and positivity as he battles with Phil Foden for a place in a crowded squad.
The Manchester City duo of Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly look in great form and are doing themselves a power of good. If only it was the same for Foden.
Guehi has been one of the signings of the season - a deal up to £30m - and a transformative influence on City’s defence. He was given the armband for England against Japan. That shows how far he has come under Thomas Tuchel and could yet win the Treble and go to the World Cup.
What a season and year that will be for the classy defender.
England Player Ratings This Week
There are less than three months to go until England boss Thomas Tuchel has to pick his final England squad for this summer’s World Cup - and he has huge competition in almost every position.
Here we look at how the England contenders fared this weekend as chief football writer John Cross gives his latest verdict on these selected players and how likely they are right now to be ‘on the plane’ in the summer.
MAN CITY v LIVERPOOL
Marc Guehi
Another cool performance which resonates across the whole Manchester City defence. His January signing has been transformative for City and he looked top class again.
Looks terrific. Has been calm, composed on the ball and, while he was not great against Japan in England’s last friendly, his form overall has been superb.
A mark of his standing in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup thinking was him being given the captain’s armband against Japan. A nailed-on starter.
Nico O’Reilly
An assist and another outstanding display. He looks strong physically and this was a performance full of strength with a message which reads: starter at the World Cup.
He was not great for England - but who was? His rise this season for City has been phenomenal. He looks strong and powerful. His improvement has been amazing.
Nailed-on for the squad and surely is ahead of Lewis Hall in the battle to be the starter at left back.
Nico O'Reilly again impressed in the thumping win over Liverpool
Nico O'Reilly again impressed in the thumping win over Liverpool(Image: 2026 Marc Atkins)
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Phil Foden
Yet another all too brief performance from the bench. This time only 19 minutes. It is just not happening as he looks well down the pecking order.
Did not take his chance in either England game and is not getting a chance at City. A real worry.
It will come down to a shoot-out between Foden and Cole Palmer for the third No10 role… and Palmer looks in pole position.
Curtis Jones
Jones looks a good play when he carries the ball from midfield to attack. He looked bright early on - but faded, just like Liverpool.
Mixed. He has struggled as Liverpool have struggled and is a long way from being a guaranteed starter.
Remember him? Thomas Tuchel doesn’t. Did not make the 35 squad for Japan and Uruguay so it looks impossible for him.
This hasn't been the season Curtis Jones would have hoped for
This hasn't been the season Curtis Jones would have hoped for(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)
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Chelsea vs Port Vale
Cole Palmer
Given the armband which shows his standing at Chelsea (mind you, Enzo Fernandez was in disgrace, Marc Cucurella also on the naughty step and a few others missing besides). But did well and looked bright.
Mixed. Was better than Phil Foden while on England duty. Is not at his best but is finding some rhythm.
In a straight shoot-out between him and Phil Foden, it looks like Palmer is ahead in the battle for the No10 slots.
Cole Palmer captained Chelsea during their quarter-final win over Port Vale
Cole Palmer captained Chelsea during their quarter-final win over Port Vale(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Southampton vs Arsenal
Ben White
Woeful. In a truly dreadful Arsenal performance and defeat at Southampton, White was one of the worst performers of all. Bad in defence and offered nothing on the overlap while his mistake fed into the opening goal.
Mixed form and performances for Arsenal and had a mixed bag for England. Hero and villain against Uruguay. Poor against Japan. Only getting odd chances for Arsenal. Not playing well.
Probably finished the England camp in a better place than he started it - but this was a major step back. But he now gets booed in every game by every set of fans. The England situation put him back in the spotlight.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Not much better than White. Sloppy in defence, was ineffective when he pushed into midfield and all round miserable game which left people thinking: what’s happened to Myles Lewis-Skelly?
Has been poor for a while but actually earned some praise while on under-21 duty. But was back to his bad ways against Southampton.
Looks way down the pecking order. Impossible to see him making the plane unless there are a raft of injuries.
Noni Madueke
Only a substitute but ran down blind alleys, ran the ball out of play and probably should not have played after his injury while on England duty.
Was poor at Southampton but Tuchel clearly likes him and praised him for his performance against Uruguay befire he got injured. But his latest outing was poor.
Tuchel - and indeed Mikel Arteta - like his ability to unlock stubborn, low block defences and that maybe is the reason he gets on over Jarrod Bowen. But it is a tight call.
West Ham vs Leeds
Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen should have been man-of-the-match - but ended up being a West Ham fall guy in their FA Cup defeat. Bowen was terrific in so many ways, driving the team, forcing good saves and then hitting the post twice. But he could not guide his team to victory and ended up missing in the shoot-out as West Ham went out.
Good. He has been excellent in recent weeks and has led by example as he looks like being on a one-man missing to keep West Ham up.
It is a straight choice between him and Noni Madueke for a place behind Bukayo Saka for the right wing slots. He is neck and neck and it will come down to the final weeks.
England Player Rating - Their chances of making the plane
After last week's internationals and the four FA Cup ties, a look at how things now stack up in the relevant positions - who are on the plane, who still have work to do and who are facing World Cup heartbreak.
Jordan Pickford 10
Dean Henderson 9
James Trafford 8
Aaron Ramsdale 7
Jason Steele 6
Marc Guéhi 9
Ezri Konsa 9
John Stones 8
Dan Burn 7
Trevoh Chalobah 6
Harry Maguire 6
Jarell Quansah 6
Fikayo Tomori 4
Reece James 9
Tino Livramento 8
Ben White 5
Nico O’Reilly 9
Lewis Hall 8
Djed Spence 6
Declan Rice 9
Elliot Anderson 9
Jordan Henderson 7
Kobbie Mainoo 7
James Garner 7
Adam Wharton 6
Alex Scott 5
Morgan Rogers 9
Jude Bellingham 9
Cole Palmer 6
Eberechi Eze 6
Phil Foden 5
Bukayo Saka 9
Jarrod Bowen 7
Noni Madueke 7
Marcus Rashford 8
Anthony Gordon 8
Harry Kane 10
Ollie Watkins 7
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6
Dominic Solanke 6
Danny Welbeck 6
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