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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a blistering critique of Noni Madueke following England’s tense World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, mockingly claiming that a spidercam cable delivered a better performance than the Arsenal winger. The Swedish football legend remarked that the Three Lions effectively played with ten men before Thomas Tuchel substituted Madueke at half-time.

Ibrahimovic criticises Madueke’s sluggish display

England advanced to the semi-finals courtesy of a brace from Jude Bellingham, but Madueke’s performance drew sharp criticism from Ibrahimovic. The former Chelsea forward was given a starting berth on the right wing in place of the unfit Bukayo Saka, yet he failed to make an impression in Miami, prompting a withering assessment from the ex-AC Milan striker.

During his commentary on Fox Sports’ broadcast of the knockout match, Ibrahimovic was unsparing in his evaluation of the 24-year-old. “The hydration break changed things a little because Jude Bellingham has been the most active player for England,” said Ibrahimovic. “But it feels like they’ve been playing with one fewer player while Madueke is on the pitch. Every time he gets the ball, he makes the wrong decision, and he’s just walking out there.”

The spidercam cable comparison

The game was not without controversy, as the ball appeared to make contact with a spidercam cable moments before Bellingham’s equaliser. While Norway protested the possible interference, Ibrahimovic used the unusual incident to further mock Madueke’s performance.

“Even the hydration break didn’t help him. He’s played, but he hasn’t started every game — England basically began with one man less. If the ball did hit the cable, then the cable had a better performance than Madueke, no doubt,” Ibrahimovic quipped.

Tuchel’s decisive half-time change

Ibrahimovic was so unimpressed with Madueke’s showing that he called for a substitution before the second half even began. “If I’m Tuchel, I take him off because he’s done nothing in the first 45 minutes,” Ibrahimovic declared during the interval. His suggestion matched Tuchel’s decision, as the England manager replaced Madueke with Saka for the second half.

Despite England’s eventual victory, Tuchel’s visible frustration reflected broader concerns about the team’s overall rhythm. While Bellingham’s brilliance secured a semi-final date with Argentina, the challenge of effectively rotating Saka’s understudy remains a pressing issue for the German coach as England edge closer to the final.

FIFA clears up cable controversy

In response to the debate surrounding the spidercam incident, FIFA dismissed claims of interference. While Norway’s players and staff voiced their displeasure over the officiating, world football’s governing body confirmed that the goal was legitimate, citing advanced sensor data from the official match ball that recorded no irregular contact.

In a formal statement, FIFA Media clarified: “Before England’s goal in the 45+2 minute against Norway, the sensor in the connected ball detected no spike in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ while airborne, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire or altered its trajectory.” The cable may have been cleared by technology, but Ibrahimovic’s scathing remarks ensured there was no such reprieve for Madueke after his forgettable night in Miami.