Jamie O'Hara has slammed Thomas Tuchel's decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of England's World Cup squad as 'criminal' and 'one of the worst World Cup squad picks ever' after a poor performance against DR Congo. The Three Lions won 2-1 in Atlanta but were behind after just seven minutes, with Harry Kane scoring an equaliser in the 75th minute and a winner in the 86th minute to secure a spot in the last 16 against Mexico.
O'Hara: England 'terrible' and lacking quality
Speaking on talkSPORT, O'Hara said Kane got England 'out of a hole' but warned that the squad lacks enough players to keep pulling off miracles. 'Obviously Kane. He'll win you a game, and Bellingham, but you can't have two players win the World Cup,' O'Hara said. 'France have got six or seven. Where are the players who are going to make something happen?' He specifically criticised the omission of Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer, saying they were left at home while England struggled to create chances from wide areas.
Right-back problems exposed
O'Hara highlighted the right-back position as a major issue, with Djed Spence starting but failing to provide attacking threat. 'Spence doesn't start at right-back for Tottenham, who finished 17th!' O'Hara said. 'I'm looking at it going, what's going on? What am I watching? Madueke doesn't get to the byline, pulls it back to Spence. Spence doesn't want to cross the ball. It's not his game.' He noted that England looked better when Declan Rice moved to right-back and Bukayo Saka played on the right wing, as they had a connection.
'How have we not took Trent?'
O'Hara called Alexander-Arnold's absence inexplicable. 'It's almost criminal that we're having to play Spence there,' he said. 'How have we not took Trent? How? It's going to go down as one of the worst World Cup squad picks ever. Ever! That Trent hasn't gone. Cole Palmer must be sat in Ibiza laughing that he's not involved in this squad. Laughing. Because we are terrible. We're terrible.'
Cundy: England look 'lost and dead' on the ball
Co-host Jason Cundy, a former Chelsea player, suggested England might have more joy against better teams that give them more space, but feared they lack quality on the ball. 'There is something to be said for the fact that when you play teams like Mexico, or play teams like Argentina, Brazil, whoever, they will give you more space. That's a fact,' Cundy said. 'It's what you do with the ball. And we look lost. We look dead. Even when we get spaces in wide areas, where you can take player on, we look like little birds.' He added: 'We're like little birds sat on the patio eating. When you open the patio door, they all fly away. That's what we are. They fly away. Don't want the ball.'
Kane's heroics mask deeper issues
England's victory was secured by two goals from captain Harry Kane, who now has three goals in the tournament. However, the performance raised concerns about England's ability to compete with top sides. O'Hara's comments reflect a broader frustration with Tuchel's squad selection, particularly the exclusion of Alexander-Arnold, a player known for his creativity and passing range. The Three Lions will face Mexico at the Azteca in the round of 16, with questions about their attacking cohesion and right-back depth looming large.
