1. PAUL ROBINSON

Generally solid as the last line of defence but culpable (along with those in front of him) for the defensive blunders that enabled Sweden to snatch a draw in the group stages. Even so, he is undoubtedly a better option than the erratic David James and is still short of his prime. This won't be his only World Cup experience. 6

2. GARY NEVILLE

England look a better side when Neville plays, not only for his defensive ability and experience but because of his understanding with best mate David Beckham down the right flank. Managed just two full games in Germany because of a thigh injury and given something of a chasing by Portugal but battled on gamely in adversity. 6

3. ASHLEY COLE

Started the tournament poorly with an iffy display against Paraguay but grew in confidence as he settled and produced a quite brilliant challenge against Ecuador to deny them a goal after a John Terry blunder. Portugal targeted the England left flank but Cole kept Luis Figo at bay and linked well with namesake Joe in attack. 7

4. STEVEN GERRARD

Not quite the irresistible force he has become for Liverpool but still the pick of England's central midfielders going forward. His goal against Trinidad & Tobago - giving Shaka Hislop an encore performance of his FA Cup final effort - will live long in the memory but his understanding with Frank Lampard is still not there. 7

5. RIO FERDINAND

Barely put a foot wrong at the back throughout the tournament as he and John Terry made up one of the best central-defensive partnerships in Germany. More noted for his distribution than his blood-and-guts defensive but if anything it was the other way round here with his passing from the back poor, particularly against Portugal. 7

6. JOHN TERRY

Made a couple of slip-ups - most notably against Ecuador when he presented Agustin Delgado with a gilt-edged chance that only a brilliant tackle from Ashley Cole prevented him from converting - but Terry's partnership with Ferdinand survived many a test, with the late aberrations against Sweden the only goals conceded. 7

7. DAVID BECKHAM

'Captain Marmite' - you either love him or hate him - polarises opinion like no other player in world football. Despite his efforts against Portugal he remains the world's premier set-piece exponent and there are few, if any, better crossers of the ball. His goal against Ecuador dug England out of a hole but the pressure is growing. 6.5

8. FRANK LAMPARD

Officially the second best player in the world yet the Lampard we saw in Germany was a pale shadow of the one we see week-in, week-out in the Premiership. The stat that he has had the most shots at the tournament is trotted out as evidence of his attacking prowess but the fact is he returns home having failed to score. 5

9. WAYNE ROONEY

Returned after his broken metatarsal to inject fresh tempo into the clash with Trinidad & Tobago and looked back to something approaching his best form against Ecuador. Doesn't entirely convince as a lone striker and his lack of discipline as England exited against Portugal means a lower mark than he would otherwise have got. 6

10. MICHAEL OWEN

Clearly not fit as he flitted in and out of the group games against Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago before cruciate knee ligament damage ended his tournament just a minute into the clash with Sweden. Though not his fault, Owen's fitness (or lack of) showed up Eriksson's policy of only taking four strikers to Germany. 5

11. JOE COLE

Cole's stunning goal at Sweden hinted that he was ready to set the tournament alight by finding the level he has under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea but Cole suffered from the general malaise in England's attacking play and despite linking well with namesake Ashley in fits and starts going forward, this was not Cole's tournament. 6

12. SOL CAMPBELL

On the field for just 44 minutes in the whole tournament with Terry and Ferdinand immovable as the first-choice central-defensive partnership - and it was no coincidence that that was England's shakiest spell of the competition. Looks a shadow of the defensive giant who performed so well in Japorea four years ago. 5

13. DAVID JAMES

Unused.

14. WAYNE BRIDGE

Unused.

15. JAMIE CARRAGHER

Filled in twice - against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden - for the injured Gary Neville at right-back and let no-one down before returning to the bench against Ecuador. Much more of a central defender than a full-back and offers less than Neville going forward but his commitment is obvious. A real 100%-er. 6

16. OWEN HARGREAVES

Ironically given the pre-tournament mockery, Hargreaves was one of the few England players in front of the defence to emerge in credit. The best defensive-minded holding midfielder in the squad and while he doesn't offer as much as the likes of Michael Carrick going forward he has surely now silenced his many critics. 8

17. JERMAINE JENAS

Unused.

18. MICHAEL CARRICK

Perhaps the unluckiest man in the squad. Barely put a foot wrong in the 1-0 victory over Ecuador when called into central midfield as Hargreaves switched to right-back but then found himself back on the bench for the clash with Portugal. If form was a factor in Sven's team selection it should have been Carrick above Lampard. 8

19. AARON LENNON

Only on the field for 43 minutes in the tournament but is a lively option off the bench presenting left-backs with a very different challenge to Beckham. Always lively, Lennon's pace puts opponents on the back foot and there are certain to be increased calls for him to start ahead of Beckham in Euro 2008 qualifying. Promising. 7

20. STEWART DOWNING

Got 36 minutes under his belt in two substitute appearances and proved the value of having a genuinely left-footed left-winger. Certainly one for the future - and he will surely benefit more than most from his former club boss Steve McClaren's promotion - but it looks like he'll have to oust Joe Cole to get a regular starting berth. 6

21. PETER CROUCH

Scored a World Cup goal - something Rooney can't say - with a little bit of help from a tug on Brent Sancho's hair but is still frustratingly inconsistent. Can look a world beater one minute and Bambi on ice the next and his presence seems to encourage England to revert to a long-ball game that doesn't suit. 6

22. SCOTT CARSON

Unused.

23. THEO WALCOTT

Unused.