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Noni Madueke has enjoyed a relatively good World Cup so far. However, the performance against Norway was not his finest hour. It was so bad that he wasn't even given a full hour, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic probably knows why.
Speaking after the first 45 minutes, Zlatan Ibrahimovic called for Noni Madueke to be removed from the game because he wasn't effective. Well, he worded it harsher than that, but it'd difficult to disagree with him.
In his words, Zlatan said “I think they [England] are playing with one player less so far. Madueke has been on the pitch ... I have to say every time he gets the ball he makes the wrong decision, and he’s walking on the pitch. “If I’m [Thomas] Tuchel, I change him because he’s done nothing this first 45."
"Even the hydration break didn’t help him ... They [England] started with one guy less."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was spot on about Noni Madueke
Look, Zlatan was right to criticise Noni Madueke. We have been the first to comment on his great performances in previous matches, so it's only fair we approach his performance against Norway with the same objectivity.
To cut a long story short, Madueke was poor.
- Minutes played - 45
- Goals - 0
- Assists - 0
- Expected goals and assists - 0.12
- Accurate passes - 16/16 (100%)
- Chances created - 0
- Successful dribbles - 1/3 (33%)
- Accurate crosses - 1/3 (33%)
Madueke was wasteful, and Zlatan was right to call him out on this. When Bukayo Saka came off the bench, England were immediately better and much more joyful to watch.
Saka took on players more, and he created two chances for the Three Lions. He also played two accurate crosses and registered eight touches in the opposition's box, more than any player on the pitch.
Of course, context is important. The entire England team was poor in the first-half, so Saka had better conditions in front of him when he came on after the first half.
Nevertheless, Zlatan was right to highlight Madueke in particular for being bad. He was, by a long shot, England's worst player in the first half.
Next up, England face Argentina in the World Cup semifinal. You would imagine this is a game that Saka plays.
Madueke has been a great asset to England, but now we're in the closing stages, it's time for Saka's afforded rest time to be put to great use.
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