England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday night and much of the post-match discussion among supporters centred on Lewis Hall’s absence from the World Cup squad.
The Newcastle United left-back started the match and delivered another assured performance under Thomas Tuchel. Morgan Rogers gave England the lead before a mistake from Jarell Quansah allowed Petar Sucic to equalise.
Harry Kane then put the Three Lions back in front from the penalty spot to secure the win. Kane's record-breaking appearance was one of the night's biggest stories, but Hall also caught the attention of supporters.
He dealt well with Croatia's threat down his side, supported Anthony Gordon in attack and gave England a natural option at left-back.
For many fans, it was another reminder of what England missed by leaving him out of their World Cup squad.
Why Fans Believe Hall Should Have Made the Squad
Hall did not need a spectacular performance to make his case. He showed the qualities England want from a modern full-back, combining defensive discipline with the ability to support attacks.
He worked well with Dan Burn when Croatia tried to play directly down England's left and regularly moved forward to give Gordon an option. Their understanding from playing together at Newcastle was clear, and it gave England a useful attacking outlet.
Metro gave Hall a 7/10 rating, describing his display as another step towards becoming England's first-choice left-back. The Athletic also praised his defensive work, particularly his handling of long balls in a makeshift England defence.
Hall has also started England's wins over Czechia and Croatia earlier in the autumn, keeping clean sheets in both matches. That consistency has strengthened his position in the squad and given supporters more reason to question his World Cup omission.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, and fans have been quick to make their feelings known. Many believe he offers the balance England needs at left-back: someone who can defend properly without limiting the team's attacking options.
That does not mean Hall alone would have changed England's World Cup campaign. The team reached the semi-finals, and Tuchel had to make difficult selection decisions.
Hall Has Responded to His World Cup Disappointment
Hall has not hidden how much missing the tournament hurt him. Speaking about the decision, he admitted that he was surprised to be left out.
"I was gutted. In football, you never take anything for granted, but I'd say I wasn't necessarily expecting it, if I'm being completely honest."
He also explained how he moved on from the disappointment and returned his attention to supporting England.
"As soon as the first couple of weeks were done, when I realised I wasn't going to be there, I just had to think to myself that if I wasn't a footballer, what would I be doing, and that's supporting England."
Rather than allow the omission to derail him, Hall has continued to work his way back into the national team picture. His latest display against Croatia gives him another strong performance to build on.
The next step is to keep producing at this level and convince Tuchel that he should be England's regular choice at left-back.
If Hall maintains his defensive reliability and attacking understanding with Gordon, it will become increasingly difficult to leave him out of future squads.
