Gary Lineker has delivered his verdict on a controversial England squad decision, claiming that Lewis Hall should have been selected in Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad for this summer's World Cup. The former England hero believes the Newcastle United left-back was harshly overlooked.
Hall's Impressive Form Overlooked
Hall, 21, earned two caps under Tuchel during March's international friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, following another strong season at Newcastle. He had previously made senior appearances under Lee Carsley in the Nations League in 2024. Despite this, Tuchel snubbed Hall for the tournament in the United States, opting instead for Tottenham's Djed Spence, Newcastle teammate Tino Livramento, and Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly as left-back options. Luke Shaw was also among those ignored.
Lineker's Strong Opinion
Lineker did not hold back in his assessment, stating: "I think the best left-back has not been picked: Lewis Hall. It's fair to say at this point we would all pick different squads, it's one person's opinion and that's what counts. But there are certain players in there that I think have been hard done by, Lewis Hall for me." He added: "He talks about Djed Spence because he is the quickest and he can play on that side as well and chase back. Did he see Lewis Hall against Yamal? He didn't give him a kick. He's been really unlucky. Elsewhere I think Harry Maguire would have been another one possibly."
Lineker's History of Critique
This is not the first time Lineker has been outspoken about England. Two years ago, he called the team "s***" after a 1-1 draw against Denmark in Euro 2024, criticizing then-manager Gareth Southgate's tactics. On his Rest is Football podcast, he said: "I mean, you can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was s***. Was it tactically inept? It's really hard to be critical of Gareth Southgate because, overall in the England role, he's turned England's fortunes around in many ways. Having said that, he's kind of ended up adopting a really talented bunch of players."
England's World Cup Hopes
England, still seeking their first major trophy since 1966, begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17, followed by matches against Ghana and Panama. Tuchel's squad selection will be under scrutiny as they aim to end their 60-year drought.
