Player Ratings (Vs. Ecuador)

Paul Robinson: You can't fault his shot-stopping, but the Spurs keeper's decision-making was once again iffy, to say the very least. Left himself stranded in no-man's land when only Ashley Cole's last-ditch tackle saved his and John Terry's blushes, and every corner feels like a potential cock-up. We've said it before, but if he were David James, the nation would be screaming for him to be dropped.

Rating: Five (Out of ten)

Owen Hargreaves: Neat, athletic, incisive with his passing - just as he was impressive in central midfield against Sweden, so he was at right-back against Ecuador. His studs-in-the-thigh moment summed up his commitment. We doubt his introduction will be booed again.

Rating: Seven

John Terry: We were worried after the Sweden game that Terry's usual aerial authority seemed to be lacking, and we were right to worry. Ecuador's best chance of the game came from a terrible Terry header...but the good news is that he got better throughout the game. Let's hope we've seen the worst of him now.

Rating: Six

Rio Ferdinand: Ecuador weren't really good enough to test them properly, but doubts still remain about this partnership. Before the tournament they were touted as one of the most solid pairings in world football. Now we're a little bit scared about them facing truly top-class opoosition.

Rating: Six

Ashley Cole: Getting better with every game, his chase back to deflect Carlos Tenorio's shot onto the bar was indicative of his improving fitness and continued commitment. Finally getting forward to support Joe Cole, and boy did he need support...

Rating: Eight

David Beckham:Once again, barring the goal he was poor. General play poor, set-piece delivery poor. But we needed a goal, and that was the one thing he delivered on all afternoon.

Rating: Six

Frank Lampard: Having an utterly rotten World Cup, he seems to be wearing boots shaped like bars of Toblerone. Anonymous for much of the game, then profligate in front of goal. Again. Second-best player in the world? He's not even the second-best player in the England midfield.

Rating: Three

Steven Gerrard: Certainly not his best game, but he covered an awful lot of ground - helping out Michael Carrick in front of the defence and then getting forward to support Rooney. Looked well-rested after his bit-part role against Sweden.

Rating: Seven

Michael Carrick: The heat demanded that England kept possession, and Carrick was the man that guaranteed it happened. Rarely gave the ball away despite a range of passing between the safe two-yarder and the incisive 20-yarder. Supplied the intelligence needed in a difficult game.

Rating: Eight

Joe Cole: England's man of the group stages dropped down a couple of levels against Ecuador - sloppy in his passing, clumsy in his tackling and generally ineffective. There was no surprise when he was taken off after Ashley Cole started to look exposed down England's left.

Rating: Five

Wayne Rooney: Made an absolute mockery of Sir Alex Ferguson's assertions that it was a "pipe dream" to think that he could play any meaningful part in this World Cup. Never stopped running, never stopped chasing - a strong, creative, determined performance in difficult circumstances. Not bad from a boy who wasn't supposed to play.

Rating: Nine

Substitutes

Jamie Carragher: Did well enough.

Rating: Six

Aaron Lennon: Only on for a matter of minutes but made a massive difference - running with
the ball, getting behind the Ecuador defence. A nice weapon to have in the holster.

Rating: Eight

From : World Cup 365