First-half team:

David James
Good saves from Kewell and Viduka, but perhaps should have been more commanding for the first goal.

Gary Neville
Lost Popovic for first goal, and Kewell at another set piece. Lazaridis' pace gave him too much to think about to get forward.

Sol Campbell
When England needed his strength and power, it wasn't there. Uncomfortable with Kewell's movement across the line and strangely at odds with Ferdinand.

Rio Ferdinand
Badly exposed by Kewell for Australia's second goal. Not a good night for either half of England's first-choice central pairing.

Ashley Cole
Rarely allowed to push on by Emerton who asked plenty of questions of him defensively and exposed the Arsenal man's niggling hernia problem.

David Beckham
His poorest performance in an England shirt? Uncharacteristically conceded cheap possession, even his set-pieces were poor.

Paul Scholes
Always busy and buzzing, desperately tried to spark things from midfield and was England's best first-half player, though there wasn't too much competition for that accolade.

Frank Lampard
Mugged in midfield for the second goal. The club form that got the Chelsea man into the team completely deserted him. An anonymous performance.

Kieron Dyer
Flattered to deceive. Showed promise going forward but offered little defensively in front of Ashley Cole down the left side where England were too often exposed.

James Beattie
Worked hard and did little wrong, but was given no service to help him shine on his debut. It would be unfair to instantly discard him.

Michael Owen
Had two chances, one relatively easy, one difficult, and spurned them both, highlighting his current lack of confidence. Australia cleverly shepherded him up blind alleys.

Paul Robinson
Great save within seconds of the restart gave him an early confidence booster, little chance with the third goal. In pole position to succeed David Seaman.

Danny Mills
Steady defensively as you would expect. But when he got forward, his delivery lacked any real quality.

Wes Brown
Looked more assured than his more illustrious team-mate Ferdinand, but then he did not have Harry Kewell to contend with.

Ledley King
Slotted in comfortably alongside Brown but when asked to step up to the plate, failed and was undone by Aloisi for Australia's third.

Paul Konchesky
Did not look out of place and has a natural left foot. But did not do much to suggest he could unseat Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge.

Danny Murphy
Tried to prompt and prod, but at times his selection was poor and his passes were easily read and picked off by Aussie defenders.

Jermaine Jenas
Would have done his chances no harm at all with a performance full of running, pace and skill. Perfect cross for England's consolation.

Owen Hargreaves
Hard to question his commitment and work rate, but passed up the chance to stamp his authority on a game that seemed to pass him by.

Wayne Rooney
England's youngest-ever player brimmed with confidence, a shoot-on-sight attitude that shows he has no fear at any level.

Francis Jeffers
Hard to fault. Had one chance, and took it. A real striker's goal to get in front of his marker and flash home his header.

Darius Vassell
Started off electrically with a couple of jet-propelled runs. But faded out of the game alarmingly, even in a 45-minute run-out.