Wales 0-3 England: Player ratings as Three Lions roar into World Cup last 16
England emphatically advanced into the last 16 of the World Cup as group winners after Marcus Rashford scored twice in a 3-0 thrashing of Wales.
England only needed to avoid a heavy defeat to their neighbours, but that never looked on the cards, even if some patience was initially required.
The game quickly settled into a pattern of English probing and Welsh protection. It was possession that was building pressure, though, not chances.
That could have been very difference had Rashford been as clinical in the first half as he was in the second. He was sent through in the tenth minute by a smart Harry Kane pass, but Danny Ward saved well.
Rashford tried his luck from distance next, only for Neco Williams to block it with his head. It was a decent piece of defending but costly, with the Nottingham Forest defender forced off with an apparent head injury.
Aside from a wild Harry Maguire shot that went for a throw-in, England couldn't really muster much else in the first half. Phil Foden fired high and wide after good work from Jude Bellingham, and Rashford was off target with a probably needless acrobatic volley.
The first-half lack of quality was little more than a distant memory after the break though. A mazy run from Foden resulted in a free-kick on the edge of the Wales box. Rashford stepped up and brilliantly fired England ahead.
A minute later England were at it again, as Kane crossed to hand Foden a far-post tap-in to double the lead.
England then rolled out the substitutions to rest key players, but the game didn't change at all. Rashford marauded down the right, cut in, and fired home his second of the game.
From there it was just a question of how many goals England wanted to score, and it turned out they were happy with the three. John Stones fired a golden chance over the bar late on, but the job was long done by then.
England will now play Senegal on Sunday for a spot in the World Cup semi-finals.
1. Wales (4-2-3-1)
GK: Danny Ward - 4/10 - Good save from Rashford in the first half. Might have done a little better with the first and third goals.
RB: Neco Williams - 4/10 - Blocked a shot with his head and had to go off afterwards. Was all he did, but at least it was something.
CB: Joe Rodon - 3/10 - Won a few key headers, but that was all he could do.
CB: Chris Mepham -2/10 - Bit of a weak link at the heart of the Wales defence.
LB: Ben Davies - 4/10 - One of Wales' better players.
CM: Ethan Ampadu - 3/10 - Swamped and dominated in the midfield.
CM: Joe Allen - 3/10 - Good to see him getting a World Cup start after injury, but was dominated in midfield.
RW: Gareth Bale - 1/10 - Probably injured, but not remotely involved in the game either way.
AM: Aaron Ramsey - 4/10 - The pick of the Welsh midfield, but that didn't really say much.
LM: Dan James - 2/10 - Brought in for his pace and was probably gutted when Kyle Walker turned up.
CF: Kieffer Moore - 2/10 - Completely negated by poor service and the England centre backs.
SUB: Connor Roberts (36' for Williams) - 3/10 - He did okay, comparatively speaking.
SUB: Brennan Johnson (45' for Bale) - 4/10 - Didn't get many opportunities on the ball but was at least brave on the occasions he did.
SUB: Harry Wilson ('77 for James) - N/A
SUB: Rubin Colwill (81' for Allen) - N/A
Manager: Rob Page - 2/10 - Probably never had the tools to achieve what was needed, but didn't even make a good fist of it.
2. England (4-2-3-1)
GK: Jordan Pickford - 6/10 - Did what was needed, which was a decent save in the second half.
RB: Kyle Walker - 6/10 - Not tested but looked sharp nonetheless.
CB: John Stones - 6/10 - Ditto really. Solid. Didn't need to be spectacular.
CB: Harry Maguire - 6/10 - Highly amusing shot in the first half but decent showing from the Man Utd man.
LB: Luke Shaw - 6/10 - As solid as he needed to be.
CM: Declan Rice - 6/10 - Not tested defensively and not really needed offensively.
CM: Jordan Henderson - 7/10 - Probably a good game for him to play. Up for the battle from the first minute. Very vocal leader on the pitch.
RW: Phil Foden - 7/10 - Justified the clamour to get him in the side.
AM: Jude Bellingham - 6/10 - Influential, just quietly so.
LW: Marcus Rashford - 9/10 - A real thorn in the Welsh side. Scored two and could have had more.
CF: Harry Kane - 7/10 - Short of his best but created a great chance for Rashford and put a goal on a plate for Foden.
SUB: Callum Wilson (58' for Kane) - 6/10
SUB: Kalvin Phillips (58' for Rice) - 6/10
SUB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (58' for Walker) - 6/10
SUB: Kieran Tripper (65' for Shaw) - 6/10
SUB: Jack Grealish (76' for Rashford) - N/A
Manager: Gareth Southgate - 8/10 - Easily criticised, but he got the big calls right (in this one). His decision to switch Rashford and Foden after the break was perfect.
