Noni Madueke's Miss Sparks Controversy Despite England Win

Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins made sure the scoreline looked as routine as it felt, but the talking point belonged to someone else entirely.

Noni Madueke’s first-half miss – a glaring one by any standard – lit up social media far more than England’s ultimately comfortable win. The winger’s relaxed reaction, even sharing smiles after the blunder, jarred with a section of supporters who wanted ruthlessness, not levity.

The backlash came quickly.

On X, @cooksbits snapped: “Hopefully that’s the last we see of him this World Cup. Does ANYONE think he should be there?”

Another fan, @marklamb2002, took aim at both his demeanour and his place in the squad: “Laughing and smiling about it send him back and get foden here such a washed player.”

The criticism cut deeper when the focus turned to his season at club level. User @click00001 wrote: “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.”

On the pitch, the miss felt like a let-off. In front of goal, with the chance to underline his case before the tournament, Madueke failed to convert. Off it, he now finds himself fighting a different kind of battle: perception.

To his credit, he did not duck the issue.

Speaking after the final whistle, Madueke faced up to the mistake. “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 further, dissecting the moment that has put him under the microscope. “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.”

The goals on the night belonged to Gordon and Watkins. The scrutiny, though, settled firmly on Madueke – and with the World Cup looming, he now has to turn a viral miss into the spark for a very different kind of headline.