England drew 0-0 with Ghana at the World Cup on Tuesday and one decision by Thomas Tuchel has now been called out
09:22, 24 Jun 2026Updated 09:35, 24 Jun 2026
Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, talks to Eberechi Eze of England before he is substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Latvia at Wembley Stadium on March 24, 2025 in London
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Thomas Tuchel turned to Eberechi Eze in the second half of England's game with Ghana(Image: 2025 The FA)
In the late stages of England's underwhelming 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday night, Thomas Tuchel elected to bring Eberechi Eze off the bench.
The hope was that the Arsenal attacker could unlock the Black Stars, who were about as compact as you could ask of a team determined to hold on to a point. One of the biggest talking points upon Tuchel's England squad announcement was the decision to leave Chelsea's Cole Palmer out.
That call has never sat right with ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, and he believes Palmer would have been a better option than Eze on Tuesday evening at Boston Stadium. While the injury-hit Chelsea star had a poor season by his own standards, his controversial omission also irked those fans who felt the forward has an X-factor that can turn games in an instant.
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After thrilling with a 4-2 win over Croatia, the stage was set for the Three Lions to beat Ghana and secure their spot in the round of 32 as Group L winners. However, a well-drilled side limited England to very few clear-cut opportunities.
Eze struggled to impose himself after coming on in the 72nd minute and, at one stage, he was even easily dispossessed, only for Ghana to fluff the resulting counter-attack. The 27-year-old Arsenal star enjoyed a solid debut season in north London, scoring 10 goals as he helped the Gunners win the Premier League.
But Carragher feels there was a better option than Eze currently sitting at home. Writing in The Telegraph, he said: "Tuchel sending on Eberechi Eze for the final 20 minutes will have provoked many in the country to think, ‘Surely Palmer would have been a better option from the bench?'”
BOSTON, UNITED STATES - JUNE 23: (L-R) Eberechi Eze of England, Caleb Yirenkyi of Ghana during the World Cup match between England v Ghana at the Boston Stadium on June 23, 2026 in Boston United States (Photo by Marcel Bonte/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Eberechi Eze struggled to make an impact against Ghana(Image: 2024 Soccrates Images B.V.)
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Tuchel also brought on Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Nico O'Reilly and Morgan Rogers between the 65th and 83rd minute. Ex-England centre-back Carragher added: "Here was a scenario we have seen so often at international level:
"England drawing a blank against a side defending deep, challenging us to find the wizardry to open them up. For that, you need a magician and from the moment Tuchel selected his squad, the worry was that he left out the No. 10 with all the best tricks."
Carragher further demonstrated his point, writing: "When the inevitable substitutions arrived in the second half, Tuchel looked for fresher versions of the same players. That’s been his intention since picking his squad.
"As the tournament progresses, Tuchel’s intent to stick to his formula will either be his triumph or downfall. We witnessed the positives in game one and the flaws against Ghana. If a winger is underperforming, Tuchel will replace him with a like-for-like winger. Likewise his advanced midfielders and full-backs.
Cole Palmer
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Cole Palmer had a disappointing season for Chelsea(Image: Michael Regan - The FA)
"To me, that is the fundamental issue with the balance of the squad. The chance to pick 26 players lends itself to the inclusion of at least one maverick – that 'X-factor' footballer who has a different profile to everyone else.
"This was never about selecting Palmer to necessarily start every game. It just feels wrong that a player who scored in a European Championship final, and ripped Paris St-Germain apart in the Club World Cup in the US last summer, was not picked as an option."
Carragher has been consistent in his support for Palmer. When the 26-man squad was announced, he claimed the Chelsea playmaker deserved a spot, arguing that he's one of the few players in the national team with 'swagger' and 'arrogance'.
The point against Ghana leaves England top of the group ahead of Saturday's clash against Panama, and they are all but guaranteed safe passage into the knockout stages. However, the call to leave out Palmer could continue to haunt England's German boss should his team fall into another tight struggle in their upcoming games.
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