Stuart Pearce, the former manager of England, has publicly faulted Arsenal’s Noni Madueke for his performance during the team’s World Cup clash with DR Congo. Pearce specifically accused the winger of quitting on the pitch during the match.
Thomas Tuchel’s squad narrowly avoided a shocking exit from the tournament after falling behind to an early Brian Cipenga strike. England remained in a deficit for over an hour until captain Harry Kane secured a comeback with two late goals, the first from an Anthony Gordon assist and the second acting as the match-winner.
While England has advanced to the round of 16 to face Mexico, analysts argue that the team must improve significantly to contend with powerhouses like Brazil, Argentina, and France. Madueke, who started the game but was replaced by Bukayo Saka with 30 minutes remaining, drew particular ire from Pearce.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Pearce noted that while he admired Madueke’s early efforts, the player became tired and chose the easiest path rather than continuing to fight in the second half. Saka, currently ahead of Madueke in the club hierarchy under Mikel Arteta, was substituted into the match as he manages his fitness throughout the competition.
