England forward Noni Madueke was left embarrassed after missing an open goal in the first-half of his side’s game against Costa Rica.
The Arsenal winger, playing for the first time since his side lost in the Champions League final on May 30, was picked ahead of Bukayo Saka amid his team-mate’s ongoing injury issues.
He started well on the right side of the attack, linking up well with former Chelsea colleague Reece James down the right, but left fans staggered with his miss towards the end of the half.
In the 36th minute of the game, the 24-year-old was played in by Jude Bellingham and ran at goal with the Costa Rica defence in his wake.
Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira rushed out to confront him, but Madueke showed good skill to roll it past him and to the side with an empty net to roll the ball in to.
As he shot, though, he went with his stronger left foot rather than his right, and fired the ball at the post before the rebound got tangled in his feet and went out for a goal kick.
Noni Madueke missed an open goal for England in their final World Cup warm-up match
The Three Lions winger smiled in embarrassment following the shocking miss in Florida
The forward saw the funny side of things, smiling in response, but not everyone was best pleased.
Madueke and Saka are the only natural right-sided attackers in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, with the likes of Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen controversially left at home.
It is expected that the former will have a big role to play during the World Cup, with Saka not fully fit as he manages an Achilles issue.
He did little to help his cause with the miss, however, which was criticised by Roy Keane on ITV punditry.
‘I think his movement is pretty decent, but you need the end product,’ Keane said. ‘You are looking for a golden opportunity… you have to take it.
‘The most important part is putting the ball in the net and his end product has to improve. This can define players – just put it in the net. Has to score. Then smiling afterwards… you have to take them.’
Ian Wright added: ‘It is more embarrassment, the smile. Everything up until then is perfect, but you don’t want to be stepping over that, the ball is not in the right position. He has hit the post because he is running at an angle.’
Lee Dixon, meanwhile, said: ‘It’s a brilliant run, found superbly well, he’s onside. Does the trick, should put it in with his right foot, surely.
‘Just put it in with your right foot now. You always run that risk when you are falling away with your left foot – he should still hit the target. You can roll it in. A shake of the head.’
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