Newcastle United star gets last laugh as Thomas Tuchel mistake exposed at World Cup
Lewis Hall deserved to go on the plane - that was crystal clear as England limped to a goalless draw with Ghana last night.
As England huffed, puffed and ran out of ideas against Ghana, Thomas Tuchel cut an frustrated figure on the touchline. Cameras - with the footage now viral on social media - caught the German tearing into Djed Spence, demanding his full-back to “give and go” as the nation groaned in unison.
But for all of the anger towards his own player, the German should first take a hard look in the mirror. Perhaps the most radical change from the Three Lions team that walloped Croatia came at left-back.
Nico O’Reilly was out - with Tottenham Hotspur defender Spence asked to deputise in an unnatural position. Akin to Ashley Young and Kieran Trippier in 2018, 2021 and 2024, a right-footed player was shoehorned into the side, severing a key line of Three Lions attack.
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Meanwhile, Lewis Hall - arguably Newcastle United’s standout performer last season - is spending the summer watching from afar. A penny for his thoughts. Or those of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden as England took an hour to register a shot on target.
In a game where Ghana parked an 11-man bus, impotent England failed to create a clear-cut chance until the dying embers. Harry Kane sent a close-range chance missiling after his penalty from the last World Cup to cap off a miserable night.
Tuchel’s side dominated possession but did diddly squat with it. Anthony Gordon looked isolated down the left flank, starved of the overlapping support that Hall provided so effectively for Newcastle last season.
If ever there were a game teed up for the Newcastle man, this was it. Is Hall the greatest English defender ever seen? Absolutely not.
Spence’s pace will get him out of trouble in one-on-one situations against the elite World Cup speedsters. In that scenario, he is a logical pick. However, against a stubborn defence, England needed a natural left peg to stretch the pitch, deliver quality from wide and execute incisive passes. Tuchel left that player at home.
"It is a long tournament," the England boss said at the full-time whistle. "The boys tried everything and again they played with the right energy.
"I know it is a very difficult game and in this case, if one team tries to play and run against this deep block, you don't find the spaces and it is difficult for you to create chances, it can be difficult to watch and it is not as exciting as two teams trying to win it in a more open game.
"We always try to entertain our fans. It was difficult today, I hope they (the fans) don't lose belief. It is a long way to go. Credit to our opponent and I just feel like I was right: we play in a very difficult group."
Keep the faith, Tuchel urges. But much of the optimism was sapped pre-tournament when he left the likes of Hall at home. He still has a long way to go to convince the public that England can add an elusive second star to their shirt.
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