Patrick Vieira backed Noni Madueke for England’s wide role ahead of Ghana, saying there is nobody better for the job. The support lands as the starting picture is still being debated, and England are trying to manage Bukayo Saka while keeping their attack sharp. Madueke now has high-profile backing for Tuesday.
Vieira’s case for Madueke
Vieira made the argument on The Rest Is Football after watching England’s opening match. “When you look at England’s first game, I think it was quite positive,” he said, before adding that the winger’s profile fits the plan: “The way that they play in the first-half, and I think the role and responsibility of Kane will be quite the same, he’s going to drop. So you expect those wingers to run in behind with pace and you are not going to find somebody better than Madueke to do it.”
That is a direct vote for pace and vertical running in the wide areas, not a general endorsement. Vieira also said the press may be a little bit hard on Madueke, but that he has been really positive so far and can still do a really good job if he keeps the same attitude on the field.
England’s first-game evidence
England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening match, and Madueke played a decisive part without needing to score. He won the penalty that led to Harry Kane’s first goal, then provided the kind of pace and directness Vieira highlighted in his case for keeping him in the XI.
Bukayo Saka also came off the bench against Croatia and set up Marcus Rashford’s late goal, which feeds the selection debate around the wide spots. Thomas Tuchel has repeatedly stressed the importance of managing Saka’s workload in the early stages of the tournament, and that management is being shaped by his Achilles issue.
Thomas Tuchel’s choice
Madueke is expected to retain his place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI against Ghana on Tuesday. If England beat Ghana in Boston, they will guarantee their place in the knockout stages with a game to spare.
Some supporters and pundits continue to question whether Madueke should start ahead of alternatives such as Cole Palmer. Vieira’s comments cut through that debate by tying the decision to the way England want to play: Kane dropping, wide players running beyond him, and one winger already showing he can turn that pattern into a penalty, a lead, and a 4-2 victory over Croatia.
