How England made up the numbers in Germany

PAUL ROBINSON 5
Four clean sheets out of five, but the first of many England players who return from Germany with their reputation diminished. Without having too much to do, he failed to inspire confidence, particularly when high balls came his way, and while this may sound harsh, he never threatened to save a penalty in the shoot-out. Has the look of a stopgap — a Chris Woods or a David James — rather than an enduring England goalkeeper, but he should retain his place for now, with his most promising rivals (Chris Kirkland, Scott Carson, Ben Foster) not yet playing first-team football.

GARY NEVILLE 5
Said before the tournament that this, at 31, was likely to be his last World Cup finals and it is not one he will remember fondly. Hampered by injury before and during the tournament, he played only the first game and the last, never looking 100 per cent fit, as was shown by his inability to offer David Beckham his usual support on the overlap. Niggling injuries have become a problem over the past year or two, but, provided that he can keep those at bay, he will remain indisputably England’s best right back for the next two years. Luke Young or Glen Johnson, anyone? Thought not.

RIO FERDINAND 7
Has never quite recaptured the form he showed in the 2002 World Cup finals, but this was much more like it from a player who, at 27, has still to fulfil his true potential. Defended with aggression and composure, albeit without ever having to face a top-class striker. England’s one defensive wobble, in the second half against Sweden, came when he was not on the field. Concentration is always the big question mark against him, but it was not a problem here. Only complacency, which has troubled him in the past, can break up his partnership with John Terry.

JOHN TERRY 7
Alarmingly poor for a 90-minute spell spanning the second half against Sweden and the first against Ecuador, but otherwise his usual dependable self and probably the leading contender for the captaincy now that Beckham has stood down. A highlight was the goalline clearance against Trinidad & Tobago, but equally impressive was the number of shots he threw his body in the way of. Like Ferdinand, he cannot claim to have endured the most searching examination of his career, but he should grow in stature if he is given the captaincy by Steve McClaren.

ASHLEY COLE 8
There had been doubts over his fitness after almost six months out with injury, but unlike Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, he returned with a fortnight of the Barclays Premiership season remaining and was in good shape by the time the tournament began, ensuring that England’s left side was a source of strength rather than a weakness. Improved with every game and although he tired a little in extra time against Portugal, he stood firm even when left as one against two. His big decision now is where his future lies. Will it be Arsenal, Chelsea or Real Madrid?

OWEN HARGREAVES 8
Jeered on to the pitch against Paraguay in Frankfurt, but the supporters were singing his name in recognition of his astonishing performance against Portugal. Appeared in four of the five matches, but it was on Saturday that Hargreaves came of age, not only breaking up play but often quicker than Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard to join the counter-attack. McClaren has always been a fan and tried to sign him for Middlesbrough, so the midfield holding role is likely to be his when the new regime starts in August. Could well be playing in the Premiership by then.

DAVID BECKHAM 5
It is the right decision to stand down as captain — and a brave one, if jumping before you are pushed is a sign of bravery. No longer will he be guaranteed a starting place and nor should he be. After promising form in the warm-up matches, this was another poor tournament for him, despite the match-winning free kick against Ecuador and a couple of notable assists. His contribution from open play was negligible. Has begun to look his age at 31 and will not grow old gracefully unless he can reinvent himself.

STEVEN GERRARD 6
Had some very good moments, particularly the second goal against Trinidad & Tobago, but is honest enough to admit that he was nothing like the marauding figure who has inspired Liverpool to glory in the recent past. England were holding out for just such a hero, but even though he was given a little more freedom this time at Lampard’s expense, he was unable to make a truly lasting impression. And, contrary to everything that you may have heard, his penalty miss was no surprise. He has missed three out of seven for Liverpool.

FRANK LAMPARD 4
Feels that some of the criticism has been excessive. Sorry, Frank, but we expect more from you these days. His contribution might have been seen differently had any of his 24 goal attempts — more than any other player in the tournament to date — gone in, but hard to look beyond the sluggish movement and ponderous passing that recalled his West Ham United days. If McClaren has to work out one thing, it is how to accommodate Gerrard and Lampard in the same midfield, otherwise one must be dropped. On the evidence of this tournament, it would have to be Lampard.

JOE COLE 6
Briefly threatened to be one of the stars of the tournament, particularly with that spectacular goal against Sweden, but lost momentum once the knockout stages began and, as at Chelsea, was usually forced to make way when changes were required. There were some excellent touches, a mark of his confidence on the biggest stage, but not enough penetration. The best tribute to him is that no one talks about England’s left-sided problem any more but that is because the entire midfield is so dysfunctional. He might not be an automatic choice under McClaren.

AARON LENNON 7
At least two of the inclusions in the 23-man squad seem even more inexplicable now than they did at the time, but for this act of impulse, Sven, we thank you. With his pace and dribbling, which make him the antithesis of Beckham on the right, the teenager gave the team a new dimension as a substitute against Trinidad & Tobago and Portugal. Remains a raw talent, perhaps better suited to coming off the bench for now, but he could make a strong case for forcing Beckham out of the starting line-up if he can start the new season well at Tottenham Hotspur.

MICHAEL OWEN 4
Will look back in anger on this tournament. Did not appear to be fit after five months out with a fractured metatarsal and was substituted early in the first two matches. Less than 60 seconds into the third, against Sweden, he ruptured a knee ligament, summing up a horrible fortnight in which he hardly seemed to touch the ball. Has scored only four times in four tournaments since 1998, but England’s most prolific goalscorer of recent times must hope that McClaren can play to his strengths in a way that Eriksson seemed unwilling or unable to do.

WAYNE ROONEY 4
A good job that the country is not in the mood for a lynching and that, unlike Beckham in 1998, he already has a lot of credit in the bank. Like Beckham, he let down his team-mates when they needed him most, with a flash of temper that played into the hands of his opponents. Until then, he was getting sharper with every game, even if the tactics did not play to his strengths. That right foot, after all the worrying about his injured metatarsal, ended up doing more harm than good, but he has time to put things right. And, temperament permitting, he will.

PETER CROUCH 6
“Der Zwei-Meter-Mann”, as the German television commentators called him. Hard to criticise the player who scored the opener against Trinidad & Tobago and performed intelligently as a substitute against Portugal, but the problem is that the team too often take the lazy option of hitting the ball long when he is there. Likely to remain a key squad member until McClaren can unearth a big, powerful striker who can score goals as well as link play, but he needs to add more aggression to his game. It does seem a long time since all that robotic dancing, doesn’t it?

REST OF THE SQUAD
Who is surprised that Wayne Bridge, Stewart Downing, Jermaine Jenas and Theo Walcott ended up playing a sum total of 52 minutes between them? Jamie Carragher has gone from an ordinary player into an exceptional one at club level and now needs to do likewise with England if he is to be more than an odd-job man.

Michael Carrick, talented but lacking assertiveness, lost out to Hargreaves in the holding role in midfield. Walcott’s inclusion at the expense of Jermain Defoe, the experienced Tottenham Hotspur striker, was absurd, but he, like Downing and Scott Carson, will hope to benefit from the experience. David James and Sol Campbell will surely be contemplating international retirement.