Sporting Life
ENGLAND
David Seaman: Rarely troubled but alert to the danger when Argentina came forward. Made a couple of important stops. Distribution poor. 7
Kieron Dyer: Disappointingly quiet display at right wing-back. Rarely showed his pace going forward and defensive frailties highlighted by Gonzalez. 6
Gareth Southgate: Calm and composed as always at the back. Read the play well and showed Keegan he is the ideal man to play the central role in a defensive trio. 7
Dennis Wise: Showed moments of great vision and kept the play moving with sensible one-touch play in midfield. Picked up a booking. 7
Sol Campbell: Did what he had to in no-nonsense fashion. 7
Martin Keown: England were in control with Keown at the back in the first half. 7
David Beckham: Started very well, dictating play with his probing passes and firing a free-kick within inches of Cavallero's post. Faded in the second half. 7
Paul Scholes: Ran his socks off but couldn't get into the game as an attacking force. Always expecting him to pop up in the penalty area but Simeone had him in check. 6
Alan Shearer: Squandered England's best chance of the game when he headed Beckham's first-half corner wide. As willing as ever but didn't get the breaks. 6
Emile Heskey: A revelation in attack alongside Shearer. His power and pace rocked the visitors in the first half but couldn't crown his excellent work with a goal or a killer pass. 8
Jason Wilcox: Started brilliantly with two teasing left-wing crosses but drifted out of the game and found himself occasionally caught out in defence. 6
Substitutes:
Rio Ferdinand: Slotted in well in the centre of defence. Made a couple of vital interceptions. 7
Philip Neville: More reliable defensive option to Dyer at right wing-back. 7
Ray Parlour: Little time to shine. 6
Andy Cole: Found the target as soon as he came on but it was too late to expect him to win the game. 6
Kevin Phillips: No time to make an impact. 6
ARGENTINA
Pablo Cavallero: Did nothing wrong. England didn't work him as hard as they might have. 7
Roberto Ayala: The strongest and most solid of the Argentine back three. Positional play was excellent. 7
Rodolfo Arruabarrena: Suffered under England's early domination but settled down as game went on. 6
Roberto Sensini: Caught cold early in the game by the pace of Heskey. Substituted after 35 minutes and replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. 6
Diego Simeone: Screened his defence well, quietly breaking down England's attacks through the centre. Kept Scholes under control. 7
Jose Chamot: Rarely involved but was unlucky to collect a booking for a foul on Heskey.
Christian Gonzalez: Tricks and pace wide on the left. Gave Dyer problems and was often Argentina's best outlet. 8
Javier Zanetti: Not the usual all-action display from Inter's wing-back. 7
Gabriel Batistuta: Strangely subdued performance from the goal machine. Didn't have a sight of goal. 6
Ariel Ortega: Showed glimpses of his ability, dropping off the central defenders but couldn't conjour the necessary magic. 7
Juan Veron: Lazio's highly-rated midfield dynamo was largely anonymous on the Wembley pitch. 6
Substitutes:
Mauricio Pochettino: Argentina looked more solid after his introduction. 7
Nelson Vivas: No time to have an influence. 6
Gustavo Lopez: Only on for a matter of seconds. 6
Hernan Crespo: Couldn't win the game for Argentina. 6
