Madueke Wins Penalty in England's 4-2 World Cup Opener as Saka Misses Out With Achilles Issue
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 22
Madueke Wins Penalty in England's 4-2 World Cup Opener as Saka Misses Out With Achilles Issue
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 22
Summary
Noni Madueke started England's World Cup opener against Croatia and helped shape the 4-2 win by winning the penalty Harry Kane converted for the opening goal.
Bukayo Saka's Achilles problem, which he has carried since March, opened the right-wing spot, and he is not expected to start until the final Group L game against Panama.
Thomas Tuchel's faith in Madueke reflects a wider plan: surround Kane with direct, physical runners, a setup that showed in Madueke's five touches in the box and four passes to the captain.
The start caps a sharp rise for the 24-year-old, who joined Arsenal for about £50 million last summer, won the Premier League title and is now pushing to prove he is more than Saka's backup.