Gabby Agbonlahor believes Noni Madueke has played himself out of the side for England’s World Cup semi-final showdown with Argentina.
Madueke started on the right in the Three Lions’ 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway on Saturday, but – not for the first time at this World Cup – the Arsenal man struggled to make an impact on the game.
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Indeed, eSPORTY’s Adrian Durham gave Madueke just 1/10 in his post-match player ratings.
Madueke was replaced by Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka at half-time in Miami and may just have lost his place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up for the semis.
Madueke ‘not great at all’
Agbonlahor certainly feels that’s the case, as he told Shebahn Aherne on the eSPORTY World Cup Breakfast.
“The hard thing about the last game for Madueke was he wasn’t great at all,” the former Aston Villa striker reflected. “He had two or three opportunities and when he took on a defender on the outside, his crosses were a bit wild on his weaker foot.
“And these sorts of games, these tough games – and how hard it was to break Norway down in that first half – you might only get three chances to take your full-back on.
“And that’s what he’s been judged on – dragged at half-time.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s huge last-four clash, Agbonlahor would like to see Tuchel ‘mix it up’ on the right wing.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing [Marcus] Rashford on that side,” he continued. “I just think sometimes, you look at the Argentinian full-backs – they’re there for the taking.
“Rashford didn’t get on last game. Why can’t you play Rashford off that right-hand side, mix it up a bit? And then you bring him off maybe for Saka on 60 minutes, if Saka can’t start games. But I think Madueke has played himself out of a starting spot.
But Agbonlahor did show some sympathy for Madueke, concluding: “You don’t want to go too hard on him, because a lot of people did with Djed Spence [who impressed after coming off the bench against Norway]…”
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A surprise inclusion in the squad, Madueke travelled to North America instead of players such as Jarrod Bowen, a regular pick under Tuchel.
‘A shock for all of us’
One person who thought Bowen definitely should have been on the plane is TV star Danny Dyer, whose daughter Dani is married to the West Ham winger.
“I just think that Saka’s there and he hasn’t really started any games… Madueke’s been starting games,” Dyer told eSPORTY’s Ian Abrahams. “And I just think, look, good luck to this kid – I’ve got nothing against him.
“I think he’s definitely got a future ahead of him – but for this moment, Jared should have been the man on the right if he’s going to start. His decision-making is second to none.
“Okay, he’s 29 but I just think that he’d been in every camp up to this point and I think it was a shock for all of us, really [that Bowen wasn’t included in the squad].
“So, it’s been hard. I just think he would have done a better job than Madueke, really.”
England take on their great rivals and reigning champions Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday as they aim to reach their first World Cup final since 1966.
You’ll be able to listen to that game live on eSPORTY.
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