In Leipzig, a city not traditionally associated with English football triumphs, Adam Wharton delivered a man-of-the-match performance that answered one question and raised another. The 22-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder orchestrated his team's 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final — a win that secured Palace's first-ever European trophy. But just days earlier, England boss Thomas Tuchel had left Wharton off his World Cup squad, sparking disbelief from legends of the game.
For a club that finished 15th in the Premier League and suffered an embarrassing FA Cup exit to non-League Macclesfield, this night in Germany represented something transformative. Palace are now European champions, and Wharton was at the heart of it all — a fact that made his omission from England's 26-man squad feel all the more striking.
Former England midfielder Glenn Hoddle was among those scratching their heads. "I love the way he looks forward and passes," Hoddle told TNT Sports before kickoff. "He can hit killer balls, balls that take the whole defence out with one pass. I am not sure we have got that many who can do that from a deep-lying position on a consistent level." After the final whistle, Hoddle doubled down: "This is the quality that we have got. I would have had him in the squad. He is a wonderful footballer."
Wharton's path to this moment has been remarkable. He had featured in Tuchel's previous England squads, starting qualifiers against Serbia and Albania before a friendly against Uruguay in March. But the emergence of Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo — who started every knockout game at Euro 2024 and is now back in favor under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford — appears to have shifted the landscape. Tuchel's midfield options ultimately included Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Elliot Anderson, Eberechi Eze, and Morgan Rogers. The 35-year-old Henderson's selection over Wharton drew particular scrutiny, with Hoddle suggesting Henderson might be better utilized as a player-coach.
Former England defender Joleon Lescott praised Wharton's resilience: "He hasn't let that decision impact his performance. He is a top professional as well as mentally strong enough to deal with setbacks." On a historic night in Leipzig, Wharton showed exactly why so many believe he belongs among England's finest — even if the selection committee disagreed.