The World Cup begins in just over 24 hours, but it is a week until England start their campaign, and until then, Thomas Tuchel’s selection will be criticised. Gary Lineker thinks Tuchel has made a mistake.
England take on Costa Rica on Wednesday night in their final warm-up game before flying to Kansas for their World Cup base and preparing to take on Croatia next week. There are plenty of talking points.
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Harry Maguire, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and many other big names have failed to win a place in Tuchel’s squad. John Terry thinks Tuchel should have taken both Palmer and defender Levi Colwill.
Plenty of other talking points have been discussed in the build-up to the competition. Gary Lineker feels Tuchel has left the best English player in his position at home this summer, though, in Lewis Hall.
Chelsea sold England’s best left-back in Lewis Hall
Lineker is a big fan of Newcastle defender Hall, having watched the Chelsea academy product shine in a Champions League clash against Barcelona. It saw Hall get the better of Lamine Yamal, a rarity these days.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football’s Netflix channel, England legend Lineker believes Tuchel has made an error in not calling Hall up this summer. He believes Hall is currently the best English left-back available.
Instead, Tuchel has picked Man City’s Nico O’Reilly, while Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Dan Burn can all play on the left side of the defence. Chelsea initially loaned Hall to Newcastle, before a £28m transfer.
“The best left-back has not been picked in Lewis Hall. It’s fair to say at this point that we would all pick different squads; it’s a person’s opinion. But there are certain players there that have been hard done by.
“We’ve talked about Djed Spence because he’s the quickest and can play on that side; he can chase back. But did he see Lewis Hall against Lamine Yamal? He didn’t give him a kick. He’s been really unlucky.”
Chelsea have been linked with re-signing Lewis Hall this summer
Meanwhile, Chelsea could be in the market for a new left-sided defender this summer. Marc Cucurella is expected to leave after the World Cup following four years in Chelsea blue, and a replacement is required.
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Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso has been touted as a replacement, while England star Hall has also been linked with a return. Xabi Alonso is reportedly prepared to get involved in an attempt to re-sign Hall.
The benefits of signing Hall are aplenty. Not only will Chelsea get England’s best left-back, according to Lineker, but they will also be bringing back a homegrown player. It is a deal that makes utter sense.
Newcastle have no lure after failing to qualify for Europe like Chelsea and Hall, who only played 12 times at senior level for Chelsea, may feel he has unfinished business. It depends how much Newcastle want.
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