England's World Cup reckoning: Tuchel's squad report card after bronze-medal run

Thomas Tuchel's crew beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off. Small consolation. They then watched Argentina snatch victory in the semi-final, scoring twice in the final five minutes of normal time. Just like that, dreams died.

Declan Rice. Supposedly a key man. He didn't always hit top gear, that's for sure. But his wonder strike against France? A moment. It punctuated a tournament marked by his relentless ball recovery and those drives forward. Say what you will, his midfield influence was obvious. Especially when he was stuck in bed with illness against Norway. His absence then? It screamed 'important.'

Bukayo Saka. He frustrated. In the best possible way, mind you. Fitness issues plagued him early on. Yet, he still conjured three assists in his first 192 minutes. And that hat-trick against France? Probably the team's best individual showing. So, naturally, Tuchel benched him for the Argentina line-up. A decision that, predictably, drew plenty of flak.

Marc Guehi and John Stones. A defensive pairing. They found their footing. Eventually. Grew as the tournament wore on. Both contributed when it truly mattered. Or when they *had* to.

Phil Foden showed glimpses. Sparks. Then fizzled out. Ran out of steam during the quarter-finals. Lost his place. Happens.

Harry Kane. The captain. What can you say? Vanished when it counted. Nothing of note against Norway. A ghost against Argentina. For an 'elite goalscorer,' it raises serious questions. About longevity at the very top. Younger talents? Jude Bellingham, the £116 million kid, offered flashes. Maybe a glimpse of hope for future tournaments. We'll see.