Should Adam Wharton be in England's World Cup squad? | OneFootball

Man-of-the-match display in Conference League final provides instant response to Thomas Tuchel

In an England World Cup squad full of surprises, Thomas Tuchel’s decision to omit Adam Wharton was one of the standout talking points.

That conversation will be going nowhere now after the Crystal Palace midfielder’s man-of-the-match performance in the Conference League final.

Wharton was a figure of calm as Palace eventually prized open Rayo Vallecano’s stubborn rearguard to lift their first European title in Leipzig on Wednesday night.

A cagey affair lacked quality for large periods until Wharton lofted a delightful cross into the path of Tyrick Mitchell, who headed agonisingly wide with the goal gaping on the stroke of half-time.

Adam Wharton (left) and partner Alice Lindqvist

PA

On a nervy evening, Wharton retained his composure. The 22-year-old’s ability to remain cool amidst the heat of an increasingly feisty encounter will have had Tuchel watching on with envy.

The German will be working diligently to combat the American heat this summer, but without Wharton, England appear to lack someone capable of dictating the tempo in possession.

Historically, England have struggled to play in the heat - famously crashing out with a whimper during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil - which is why Wharton’s omission is all the more surprising.

Wharton gave Palace a platform in possession against Rayo Vallecano as he looked to play forward and drive with the ball - no player created more chances or completed more passes into the final third.

It was Wharton’s endeavour to get Palace on the front foot that then led to them taking the lead as he drifted forward before his shot at goal was parried into the path of Jean-Philippe Mateta.

When [Tuchel] called me, he just told me I wasn't there ... that's football, I'm not going to sit here and cry about it

Adam Wharton

Understated, even in victory, Wharton said after the game that he had not paid much attention to being overlooked for the World Cup.

"That's just part of football. It was never a guarantee I was going to go. I knew that," he said post- match.

"When he called me, he just told me I wasn't there. He said it was close. But yeah, like I said, that's football. I'm not going to sit here and cry about it.

"Still had two games for Palace to go. Obviously, tonight being a massive one, I don't really dwell on those things too much. It's not the end of the world. I'm still young."

Tuchel, though, may come to rue opting for physicality over technicality in his attempts to lead England to World Cup glory.

In Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice, he has two players capable of mixing defensive responsibilities with attacking thrust.

Jordan Henderson appears to have been preferred

Getty

Neither player, though, is considered a particularly creative outlet, and with Wharton joining Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at home this summer, England could struggle to unpick stubborn defences.

The Three Lions will be asked to make things happen in possession, especially in the group stages, which begs the question of why Tuchel opted for 35-year-old Jordan Henderson over Wharton.

Tuchel will point to Henderson’s tournament experience, but it could just as easily be countered that centre-back Harry Maguire could have filled that void while opening up a space in midfield for Wharton.

Maguire has enjoyed an excellent season at Manchester United and can count himself unlucky not to have been selected as England’s fifth-choice centre-back on merit.

In the context of Wharton’s inclusion, though, it makes even more sense to have Maguire in the squad to allow Tuchel to have a more creative option in midfield.

Tuchel has picked the squad he believes has the best chance of success this summer. A squad predicated on physicality and character rather than technicality.

Time will tell whether Tuchel’s decision pays off, but Wharton can certainly feel hard done by not to have made the cut as England look to end 60 years of hurt.