Madueke Under Fire
Zlatan Ibrahimović Blasts Noni Madueke as England Advances to World Cup Semifinals
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Key Points
1
The England–Norway match was played in Miami, with Zlatan Ibrahimović delivering his critique on FOX Sports during the broadcast, highlighting the live punditry angle of the criticism.
2
"They are playing with one player less so far" is the core line Ibrahimović used to describe Madueke's influence, and he also quipped that the hydration break didn't help—"they played with one guy less."
3
Thomas Tuchel echoed Ibrahimović’s criticism post-match, saying the performance was 'sloppy' and 'repetitive' and that England 'were lucky today' after conceding a 2-1 win that was not built on a clean performance.
England advanced to the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Norway in Miami, but the result was overshadowed by a withering on-air attack on winger Noni Madueke. Fox Sports pundit Zlatan Ibrahimović declared that England were "playing with one player less" every time Madueke had the ball, according to Yahoo Sports.
Madueke was hooked at halftime after managing just 28 touches and creating zero scoring chances. Jude Bellingham then scored twice after the break to seal the win. But manager Thomas Tuchel was far from satisfied, calling the display "sloppy" and admitting England "were lucky today," Yahoo Sports CA reported.
Zlatan's Cable Quip Steals the Halftime Show
Ibrahimović did not hold back during the FOX Sports broadcast. His headline line was blunt: "They are playing with one player less so far." He repeated the dig after the hydration break, saying the pause changed nothing — England still "played with one guy less," according to Head Topics UK.
He also compared Madueke unfavorably to a camera cable on the pitch. "The cable had a better performance than Noni Madueke," Ibrahimović said on air, per Head Topics UK. The comments landed hard, given Madueke had been picked ahead of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka for the starting lineup.
Saka Comes On, Bellingham Takes Over
Tuchel pulled Madueke at the break and sent on Saka. The change sparked an immediate shift. Bellingham scored twice in the second half to turn a difficult game into a 2-1 victory. England had been struggling to create danger with Madueke in the side, per Yahoo Sports.
The win sends England into the World Cup semi-finals. They will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the next round. But the manner of the victory left questions hanging in the air about the team's quality and Tuchel's selection calls.
Tuchel Admits England Were Sloppy and Lucky
Tuchel did not try to spin the performance after the final whistle. He called the display "sloppy" and "repetitive." He said England "made life difficult for themselves" and acknowledged they "were lucky today," according to Head Topics US.
His words echoed Ibrahimović's criticism almost exactly. A manager and a pundit agreeing that a team performed poorly — despite winning — is a rare and telling signal. It puts real pressure on Tuchel to rethink his lineup before the semi-final.
Madueke's Starting Spot Now Seriously in Doubt
Madueke started over Saka in a choice that raised eyebrows before kickoff. After just 45 minutes and 28 touches, he was gone. Saka's immediate impact after coming on made the original decision look even worse, per Yahoo Sports CA.
Whether Madueke gets another chance in the semi-final is now the key talking point around the England camp. With Ibrahimović's words still ringing and Tuchel's own admissions on record, it is hard to see how Madueke holds his starting place against either Argentina or Switzerland.
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