Eberechi Eze was overlooked again after England stunner - but Arsenal star made his point - The Mirror

All eyes were on Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden but Eberechi Eze made another compelling case for being part of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for World Cup 2026

Considering the furore after he had been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s previous squad, it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a focus on Jude Bellingham’s cameo performance against Serbia. And to a lesser extent, the same was always going to be true in the case of Phil Foden.

So, when the goal was analysed by television, it was no surprise the involvement of Bellingham and Foden in England’s second of Thursday night was highlighted. And that involvement was significant, even if Bellingham’s contribution appeared to be illegal after he had sloppily given away possession deep in his own half.

Foden’s involvement was definitely legal, a short pass to Eberechi Eze that was neat but excessively lauded by a few pundits. Yes, it was noteworthy that Bellingham and Foden were key to the second against Serbia but the goal was all about one thing - Eze’s wonderful finish.

Contrary to what some suggested, Foden did not put it on some sort of ‘plate’ for him. It was as good a strike as we have seen from an England player at Wembley for a long time.

The build-up was good but straightforward, the finish was sublime. Yet a lot of the chat was about Bellingham starting the move from deep and Foden again showing he has a very agile footballing brain.

The overwhelming majority of the chat should have been about a sensational finish. But Eze not getting the lavish credit he deserves is nothing new.

Prior to hitting his third England goal in 15 appearances - only three of which have been starts - the Arsenal man had already shown his eye for a pass and his dazzlingly quick feet. And the Serbian goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic, had fortuitously diverted an Eze effort onto the crossbar.

Eze makes things happen. He is 27 years of age but is still improving. Arsenal fans have yet to see the very best of him and would doubtless encourage Mikel Arteta to use him more on the left, where he has looked so effective for England.

Eze’s international minutes have been limited but he has made an impact whenever he has been on the pitch. On Sky Sports the other day, pundit Jamie O’Hara said he thought Eze would not make the World Cup cut. Given O’Hara’s allegiances - and Eze’s rejection of Spurs in the summer - his views should not have been surprising.

And it is certainly true that England are well-stocked in what you might call the attacking midfield department. If there is a clean bill of health in that department, there will be some notable omissions from Tuchel’s squad for World Cup 2026.

Jack Grealish, for example, already faces a severely uphill task to try and get back into Tuchel’s plans. But Eze will surely make it.

When Anthony Gordon withdrew from this squad through injury, it was seen as a chance for Marcus Rashford to establish himself as first choice for the attacking slot on the left flank. But at the very least, Eze has put himself into that conversation.

And that sort of versatility should mean a place in the squad for next summer. He does not get the credit he deserves, but Eze might just be invaluable to Thomas Tuchel.

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