England player ratings as Southgate men gently succumb to Nations League relegation

Well, that's it. England are relegated to second place in the Nations League with a game to spare after a 1-0 defeat in Italy which tended strongly towards the dreary. There is one game left before Qatar and a lot of things to settle.

There aren't many positives here. Bellingham was pretty good. Dier was perfectly decent. Ah, you've already stopped reading, haven't you? Fair play.

NICK POPESmart stop by Raspadori before the offside flag was raised But he must not have known that. Then he had his whole mind on him for a save that scored to deny Scamacca at the far post after the entire England defense went MIA. An erroneous clearance that briefly gave Italy fears of a chance, followed shortly after by a clog that sent the ball straight back to the hosts, wasn't exactly an endorsement of the work Pope apparently did on his distribution. Made a few more decent saves in the second half, generally commanded his area well and couldn't do anything for the goal. But while many had worse games for England tonight, and England in general have far bigger concerns than a fully adequate backup goalkeeper, there was also a sense that Pope showed he can do the things we all know he can do but didn't do much to suggest his weaknesses have improved much.

KYLE WALKEREarly mistake as the three England full-backs struggled to get their bearings, but it was nothing compared to the events leading up to Italy's first goal which will reopen the debate on whether Walker is or should be a central defender. He got off the starting line as a long ball sailed over his head for Raspadori, then allowed the Italian space to spin and shoot without ever getting close to him. It was a high class finish, but Walker couldn't have done more than he did to help Raspadori on his way. Almost immediately substituted as England moved to a four-man defender in a desperate pursuit of a relegation-delaying equalizer.

ERIC DiERD didn't look like the player returning to the England squad after a 20-month absence, and by far the most composed member of Southgate's defence. That's low praise, mind. Made some vital interventions including a very decent and important clearance early in the second half. Having played his way through the calculus for the past year, he certainly hasn't done anything here to get away with it.

HARRY MAGUIRES A slightly dodgy start for Southgate's most high-profile inclusion so obvious, relieved to see the offside flag go up after coming off unconvincingly so finally correctly as Raspadori barreled in on Pope's goal. After that, I settled in and produced the performance that basically no one wanted: fit. He wasn't a powerful leader answering barn criticism of a Maguire display, but he was by no means a disaster either. We know Southgate desperately wants him in this defense and we also know why that is. Southgate won't have seen anything here really to deviate from that plan and that's probably fair enough.

REECE JAMESNot at his best, and in the most competitive position on the pitch for England, you don't want to be below par often. England simply couldn't really involve their wide players in an attacking sense, but James had the added problem tonight of failing to deliver from set pieces. His corners weren't great and he completely butchered a very presentable free-kick opportunity. Given that this team has now seemingly become entirely dependent on set pieces for any hope of goals, they can't really afford to be wasted so carelessly.

DECLAN RiCEThis is his worst game against England for some time. Italy seemed to find it far too easy to play through the England midfield in the first half and with Bellingham handed the more progressive role, it's Rice who has to take the blame here. He has earned the trust of Southgate and the rest of us as England's midfield anchor, but he is not currently operating at level in this run to the Euro 2020 final. is also far from alone in this regard.

JUDE BELLiNGHAM paid the ultimate compliment for being the man Italy correctly decided he needed to be tossed in the air every time he took possession. Highlighted why with England's first truly impressive piece of progressive football midway through the first half when James was released down the right. Faded slightly in the second half and headed a presentable late chance over the bar, but certainly a performance that qualifies for Rare Bright Spot status. Must play all games now; we hope and pray that he has done enough to convince Southgate of this. We fear...