Fans are buzzing with excitement after England’s big 6-0 win just before the World Cup starts!
Thomas Tuchel’s choice to leave Rio Ngumoha out of his World Cup squad is getting people talking again, especially after the Liverpool forward scored an amazing long-range goal.
On Thursday, the Three Lions easily beat USL Championship side Miami FC 6-0 as they get ready for their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday (June 17).
Ivan Toney, who will probably play second to captain Harry Kane this summer, scored a hat-trick in this practice game and was called the “star man” by the Mail. Jordan Henderson, Ethan Nwaneri, and Rio Ngumoha also scored goals.
Ngumoha, named Player of the Match in his debut against New Zealand last weekend, reportedly scored a “worldie” against the American second-tier team.
Once fans saw his goal on social media, many wondered why he wasn’t picked for this summer’s World Cup. One wrote, “I don’t get why Tuchel didn’t take Rio to the World Cup,” and another said, “He’s one of the most exciting players from recent games and not in the squad.”
Others joked, “The more time passes, the funnier it is that Tuchel left him out and chose Madueke,” while someone else mentioned, “He should have gone instead of Madueke.” Another fan added, “They really should have found room for him in the England squad, especially with how Tuchel uses his wingers.”
At 17, Ngumoha is one of four young players Tuchel brought to Florida along with his 26-man World Cup squad. The others are Alex Scott, Josh King, and Ethan Nwaneri. However, Ngumoha won’t be able to play in the tournament.
FIFA rules allow teams to make changes up to 24 hours before their first match if a player gets injured or sick. But the replacement must be from the original 55-man provisional squad list. This means Ngumoha can’t be called up if someone in England’s squad gets hurt or sick before their Group L opener. The only extra player eligible is Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who was on the provisional list.
“I’m happy these guys are with us, especially Alex, who was on the list of 55 but got a disappointing call that he didn’t make the final squad,” said Tuchel last month. “His reaction was great and showed his strong character.”
What do you think—should Ngumoha have made Tuchel’s 26-man squad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!