UMVA has learned that former England striker Gary Lineker has expressed his surprise at several selections made by Thomas Tuchel for England's World Cup squad, including the omission of Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall.
Hall's absence from the squad has been labeled as 'baffling' by Lineker, who believes the young defender has been impressive this season, particularly in his ability to cope with pacey wingers. Tuchel's decision to include Tottenham defender Djed Spence, who is more of a right-back, has also raised eyebrows.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Lineker was also surprised by the omission of Chelsea's Cole Palmer, who he believes brings a unique quality to the team. Palmer's ability to create moments of magic on the pitch was highlighted by Lineker, who noted that the young player was the star of the Club World Cup 12 months ago.
Lineker also expressed his disappointment at the exclusion of Manchester United's Harry Maguire, who he believes was 'really unlucky' not to be included in the squad. Maguire's experience in major international tournaments was cited as a key factor in his favor, with Lineker suggesting that Tuchel's decision to prioritize Dan Burn was a surprise.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Lineker was also taken aback by the inclusion of Ivan Toney, who has spent the last two seasons playing in Saudi Arabia. Toney's selection was seen as a surprise by many, with Lineker questioning why Tuchel chose to include a player who has not been part of the English domestic scene for some time.
England's World Cup campaign gets underway on June 17 against Croatia, with the team also facing Ghana and Panama in the group stages. With a number of surprise selections and omissions, Tuchel's squad will be under close scrutiny as they bid to bring home the coveted trophy.
