Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed Thomas Tuchel put his England team at a significant disadvantage in their World Cup quarter-final against Norway.
The Three Lions emerged victorious thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace, but needed extra time and perhaps some favourable VAR decisions to go their way in the process. However, Bellingham's double was enough to secure a semi-final showdown with old foes Argentina.
The majority of Tuchel's starting XI for that tie will be set in stone already, but there are still one or two positions up for grabs. Ibrahimovic has identified one man as a weak link, and it's likely he wouldn't recommend him as a starter on Wednesday.
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England have had to deal with several injury issues over the course of the tournament. One of the players who has been in and out of the team due to fitness problems is Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.
His replacement on the right flank has been clubmate Noni Madueke. The 24-year-old once again took his place in the starting XI against Norway but only lasted until half-time.
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It's no surprise as Madueke failed to make an impression, and Ibrahimovic was far from surprised. In comments that have since been widely spread on social media, the Swede didn't hold back in his assessment.
Speaking on Fox Sports' coverage, he claimed the Three Lions were essentially playing with 10 men, saying: "It [the hydration break] changed a little bit because Jude Bellingham has been the most active player for England.
"But I think they’re 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."
The last thing England need is someone 'walking', as Tuchel expressed his frustrations at the performance levels at full-time. The German was clearly on the same wavelength as Ibrahimovic when it came to Madueke's display.
During the break, the ex-AC Milan hero said: "If I’m Tuchel, I change him because he’s done nothing this first 45." That's exactly what he did.
"Even in the hydration break didn’t help him. He’s played but he’s not started every game, they [England] started with one guy less. But if it touched the cable the cable had a better performance than Madueke, for sure."
'The cable' having a better performance was a reference to the camera cable the ball allegedly struck in the build-up to England's first goal. However, FIFA have since released a statement denying that this was the case.