England toiled to a 0-0 draw with Ghana at the World Cup as Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White sat at home on his sofa with his feet firmly rested.
Gibbs-White’s omission was shocking when the England squad was announced, with Forest teammate Elliot Anderson named among the travelling party.
Despite Forest finishing in a lowly league position, Gibbs-White managed 18 goals and registered seven assists during a brilliant campaign on a personal level, yet the Forest number 10 still couldn’t force his way in.
Do you think Thomas Tuchel now regrets not taking Morgan Gibbs-White to the World Cup
England looked devoid of ideas against Ghana!😡
Gibbs-White finished higher in terms of goal contributions across 2025/26 than Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke, and was also one of the top-scoring Englishmen when it came to Premier League strikes.
As England toiled, Forest fans took to X to share how frustrated they were that a player with the ability to pick a lock with his maverick style of play sat at home watching alongside the rest of the nation.
- READ MORE: Declan Rice raves about Elliot Anderson
Forest fans think Morgan Gibbs-White would have made a difference vs Ghana
One disgruntled Forest fan wrote: “A game that shows Gibbs-White should have been in the England squad.”
Another confessed: “Biased because I’m a red, but surely Gibbs-White would’ve been a better choice than Gordon.”
Clearly, those comments are biased, but it’s hard to say they’re wrong. Anthony Gordon has done nothing to suggest he should be at the tournament in the place of Gibbs-White, with Thomas Tuchel claiming he nearly picked the Forest man as a left-wing option.
Another Forest fan said: “Gordon in this squad ahead of Gibbs-White defies belief.”
Gibbs-White’s ability to make a dull game appear exciting would have been helpful, too, with one fan saying: “These are the types of games that Gibbs-White would’ve been perfect for. England are begging for a flair player. Too monotonous.”
Finally, one fan said: “The game was actually made for Gibbs-White to come on and create. Gordon and Madueke in the squad is a joke.”
Thomas Tuchel’s baffling squad comes back to bite him
With no Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden or Jarrod Bowen among the players on the bench last night, England were devoid of ideas.
It was a travesty that better players weren’t available to come on and try to change the game in England’s favour.
🔢Fill in the gap: Elliot Anderson was __/10 vs Ghana
Anderson played for the second time at a major tournament for England!
England’s first eleven is largely good, but ultimately, you need the form players from the last Premier League campaign to come in during a time of need.
Gibbs-White might not have transformed the fortunes of England last night, but it’s not unfair to say he’d have offered a damn sight more than both Gordon and Madueke did.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
