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England’s most recent appearance in a World Cup third-place play-off came in 2018, ending with a forgettable 2-0 defeat to Belgium.

Goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard sealed a comfortable win for Belgium, leaving England to settle for fourth place.

As the Three Lions now gear up to face France in the 2026 World Cup, it’s a good moment to look back eight years and see where that starting XI has ended up.

After taking over from Joe Hart before the 2018 World Cup, Jordan Pickford has remained England’s first-choice goalkeeper for more than eight years. Despite competition from Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone, and Dean Henderson, none have managed to dislodge the Everton man. However, signs at the 2026 World Cup suggest Pickford might be slowing down, with James Trafford waiting in the wings – definitely a situation to watch.

Phil Jones earned his final England cap in that 2018 third-place match in St Petersburg, where he was partly at fault for Hazard’s goal due to some loose defending. Often unfairly criticised throughout his career – sometimes even for his facial expressions – Jones stayed at Manchester United until 2023 despite ongoing injury troubles. He retired soon after leaving Old Trafford and has since taken up a role as first-team coach at Sheffield United.

John Stones, one of four players from that 2018 match who also featured in England’s 2026 squad, started in the heartbreaking defeat to Argentina as the team’s senior centre-back. The 32-year-old, who has also struggled with injuries, recently left Manchester City and is currently without a club, though that situation is unlikely to last long.

Once the world’s most expensive centre-back, Harry Maguire made his name through his heroics for England. Still at Leicester City when he made his international debut in a 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Lithuania in October 2017, Maguire quickly became one of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted players. He played a key role in England reaching both the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the Euro 2020 final. Although his form dipped at Manchester United in the early 2020s, he bounced back strongly under Michael Carrick’s management and was unlucky to miss out on the 2026 World Cup squad.

Kieran Trippier was a late bloomer, making his England debut at nearly 27 years old in a 3-2 friendly loss to France in June 2017. Despite stiff competition at right-back, he became a reliable figure in the Southgate era, earning 54 caps and scoring the unforgettable free-kick against Croatia in the 2018 semi-final. Now 35, Trippier has recently signed for Championship side Wolves after four and a half years with Newcastle United.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a brief spell in the England setup, featuring notably during the Thomas Tuchel era at Chelsea. Since then, he has found stability in Italy, spending the last three seasons with AC Milan.

Dele Alli was a star for both Tottenham and England in 2018, though in hindsight his decline had already begun. His struggles with mental health have been well-documented, and he has spoken openly about them. Dele’s last club was Como, where he made a single appearance in 2025.

Eric Dier, who chose to represent England over Portugal – the country where he spent much of his youth – became a mainstay in the national side after debuting against Spain in late 2015 alongside Dele. Fans will always remember his decisive penalty against Colombia in 2018. However, Dier hasn’t featured for England since 2022 and now plays for Monaco in Ligue 1.

Fabian Delph became a minor cult hero in 2018 after affectionately calling his wife “a machine” shortly after she gave birth. He played 22 matches during Manchester City’s title-winning 2017-18 season but struggled for minutes the following year and moved to Everton in 2019. His time at Goodison Park was plagued by injuries, and he retired in September 2022.

Danny Rose, born in Doncaster, declined a call-up from Jamaica to represent England, making his debut in a 3-2 friendly win over Germany in 2016 and going on to earn 29 caps. The left-back last played professionally for Watford in 2022 before retiring two years later.

Jesse Lingard’s finest moments for England came at the 2018 World Cup, where he played a key part in the team’s run to the semi-finals. His club career, however, faded after leaving Manchester United in 2022. Following spells at Nottingham Forest and FC Seoul, Lingard now plays for Corinthians, becoming the first English footballer to feature in Brazil’s Serie A.

Raheem Sterling, though goalless at the 2018 World Cup, remained a vital figure under Gareth Southgate and was England’s standout performer at Euro 2020. His final appearance for the national team came at the 2022 World Cup, and he was recently released by Feyenoord.

Marcus Rashford, still only 28, has been part of the England setup for over a decade. His strong form at Barcelona earned him a place in the 2026 World Cup squad, where he scored against Croatia in the group stage. However, after falling out of favour following the round of 32 match against DR Congo, his future is uncertain, with Barcelona choosing not to sign him permanently and Manchester United hesitant to retain him.

Harry Kane, England’s captain and all-time leading goalscorer, continues to lead the line in 2026. Yet, concerns are growing about what lies ahead for England once Kane steps away, as the 33-year-old appeared visibly fatigued in the later stages of this World Cup.