Gary Lineker has expressed his surprise at Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave out Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall from England’s World Cup squad, calling the move “hard to understand”. The former England striker questioned the logic behind overlooking a player who has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers this season while prioritising other defensive options.

Lineker questions omission of Lewis Hall

Lineker openly discussed his confusion regarding Tuchel’s decision to exclude Hall from the 26-man England squad heading to the United States for the World Cup. Despite enjoying an outstanding season with Newcastle, the young defender failed to make the final list, a decision Lineker described as “baffling”, especially given Hall’s strong performances against top-tier opponents. Although he featured in warm-up matches against Uruguay and Japan, Hall was one of the most notable absentees when the final squad was confirmed.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said, “It certainly surprised me, but I would say that everyone has their own view on this and almost everyone will differ from the England manager in one or two positions. Ultimately, what matters is what the England manager believes. Still, there are a few decisions I find difficult to understand. Of course, if England go on to win the World Cup, none of this will matter. Tuchel has said it’s not about simply picking the most talented individuals but about building a cohesive team, and I completely understand that.”

He added, “There were a couple of standout omissions for me. Everyone would pick a different squad and there’s only one opinion that really counts, but I found Lewis Hall’s exclusion hard to understand, I really did. He’s been outstanding this season. Tuchel mentioned Djed Spence as the backup left-back, but he’s naturally a right-back. Tuchel talked about Spence’s pace against quick wingers, but Hall was the only player I’ve seen really handle Lamine Yamal this season. That decision left me quite puzzled.”

Shock over Cole Palmer’s absence

Lineker also voiced disappointment over the omission of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. The creative attacker, who has often been decisive for the Blues in major matches, was left out of Tuchel’s final squad in favour of other wide options.

“I was disappointed for Cole Palmer,” Lineker said. “Noni Madueke had a decent season, but he usually plays second fiddle to Bukayo Saka. Cole offers something unique—he’s a player who can change a game in a moment. If we think back to a year ago, he was the standout performer at the Club World Cup, which, incidentally, is being held in the same country as this World Cup. Yes, he’s had injuries this season, but he showed sharpness in Chelsea’s recent matches and seemed to be regaining his best form.”

Maguire versus Burn: the leadership debate

Another selection that raised eyebrows was the exclusion of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire. Despite being a regular for England in recent years, Tuchel opted for Newcastle’s Dan Burn, citing his leadership qualities as a key factor in the decision.

Lineker commented, “I think Harry Maguire was really unlucky. Tuchel spoke very highly of Dan Burn, saying he could bring leadership to the back line. I suspected he wouldn’t pick both because they’re quite similar players in some respects. But Maguire has been a consistent performer for England in major tournaments and has never let the team down, so I think he can feel very unfortunate.”

Ivan Toney’s surprise inclusion

Lineker also addressed the unexpected selection of striker Ivan Toney. The forward, who currently plays for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, was widely thought to be out of contention for international duty. However, Tuchel surprised many by including him in the final squad.

“I was really surprised about Ivan Toney as well,” Lineker admitted. “That one came out of nowhere. Nobody was really talking about him because he’s been playing in the Saudi league for a couple of years. He’s a talented player, of course, but it was still a surprising choice.”

England will begin their World Cup campaign in Group D on June 17 with a match against Croatia, followed by fixtures against Ghana and Panama as they aim to make a strong start in North America.

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