Noni Madueke Faces Criticism After Missed Chance in World Cup Friendly

Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins did their job, stretching the scoreline and wrapping up what, on paper, looked like a routine victory. The result never really felt in danger.

The reaction to Noni Madueke did.

One missed chance in the first half, one rueful smile afterwards, and the winger found himself at the centre of a storm that had very little to do with the final score. The ball had sat up invitingly; the finish never came. Cameras caught his relaxed demeanour in the aftermath, and that was all it took.

On X, the verdict was brutal. “Hopefully that’s the last we see of him this World Cup. Does ANYONE think he should be there?” wrote @cooksbits, cutting straight to the point.

The criticism kept coming.

“Laughing and smiling about it send him back and get foden here such a washed player,” posted @marklamb2002, unimpressed by the winger’s reaction to his own mistake.

Another user, @click00001, went for the selection itself, arguing Madueke’s place owed more to his club’s status than his own output: “The only reason why he’s in that squad is because he’s part of a premier league winning team. He contributed about 1 goal and 2 assists btw. I’d take out of form Palmer or Bowen over him without thinking twice.”

The match moved on. Gordon struck. Watkins followed. The scoreline gave the manager breathing space, but it did little to cool the debate around one player fighting to justify his inclusion.

Madueke, at least, did not hide from it.

Speaking after the final whistle, he faced up to the miss with a blunt honesty that contrasted sharply with the online pile-on. “I should have scored one,” he admitted. “We definitely had a few chances, Morgz [Morgan Rogers] I think. But it will come. Better to miss them now than when the tournament starts."

He went into the detail only a forward truly obsesses over. “I should’ve probably gone with my right foot. Obviously, it was happening quick. I should’ve scored it, but when the tournament comes, I will score them.”

That is the line he has drawn for himself now. The friendly is over, the criticism is loud, and the margin for error when the tournament begins will shrink to almost nothing.