Soccer
Can 'one guy less' Madueke turn FIFA World Cup fortunes around?
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Football has its scapegoats. The beautiful game has plenty of ugly truths beneath its surface, and this is just another one.
England's success thus far at the FIFA World Cup this summer though has helped their players mostly elude such scorn.
Well, for the most part. For Noni Madueke, a tournament to forget only appears to be fading faster the further his team go.
Starting on the right flank for the Three Lions in Saturday's quarter-final against Miami, it was a game to forget for the star.
Sweden legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic went so far as to say England had "one guy less" with the Arsenal winger on the pitch.
Time is running out to throw off that reputation. But with two games left to play, can Madueke still turn his fortunes around?
What did Ibrahimovic say about Madueke?
Tasked with replacing club-mate Bukayo Saka up top against Norway, Madueke's found plenty of area but failed to push on.
It left Ibrahimovic unimpressed, with the star telling Fox Sports: "They're playing with one player less with [him] on the pitch.
(C)Getty Images
"I have to say, every time he gets the ball, he makes the wrong decision. If I'm [manager Thomas] Tuchel, I'm changing him.
"He's done nothing this first [half]. Even the hydration break didn't help him. [England have] started [here] with one guy less."
He was not the only one. Madueke was withdrawn for Saka at the interval, and played no further part in England's 2-1 win.
Should Madueke have been selected?
This is of course a subjective matter. Tuchel has spoken about how every piece of his squad has been smartly tailored to fit.
In picking Madueke over, say, West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen, the German suggested it came down to his club success.
Yet that also fudges the argument on raw data, with Madueke's stats at Arsenal disarmingly lacklustre against several rivals.
Then there is the fact that he is effectively second choice at club level too behind Saka when fit, another curious anomoly.
Whether Madueke has performed the role Tuchel has asked of him remains to be seen. But the evidence so far suggests not.
Can Madueke still turn his tournament around?
In reaching the semi-finals, England have an assured two games remaining, starting with their last-four clash with Argentina.
It remains to be seen who will get the nod up front alongside captain Harry Kane. Saka's form suggests he should be a cert.
Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
But if his long-standing injury issues leave Madueke to start again, there is still time to turn his own performances around too.
Thus far, he has not struggled for space, and if Reece James gets the nod to begin, progression will be aided on the flank.
That can help create the overlap that Madueke needs best to thrive, though if his confidence has taken a knock, it may be tough.
Still, he need only look around the rest of his teammates for belief. Both Djed Spence and Dan Burn were slated for selection.
Now, in their roles as super-sub defensive options, the pair have a new lease of life and cult-hero status akin to Harry Maguire.
If Madueke can find the missing link to tee up those chances, and carve up Lionel Messi and company, he will be the toast of the town.
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