Danny Dyer has launched a passionate defence of son-in-law Jarrod Bowen after the West Ham captain was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
The actor admitted his family had been so convinced Bowen would be heading to the United States that they were already discussing travel plans before learning the devastating news.
Bowen’s omission was one of the biggest talking points when Tuchel named his final squad, with the 29-year-old missing out despite featuring regularly for England in the months leading up to the tournament.
The decision came at the end of a difficult campaign for Bowen, who was unable to prevent West Ham from suffering relegation after 14 consecutive seasons in the Premier League.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Dyer made it clear he believes Tuchel got the call wrong.
The former EastEnders star described the decision as “ridiculous” and insisted Bowen deserved to be on the plane to America.
“It’s a double whammy for him,” Dyer said.
“He had a terrible weekend. It’s awful.
Danny Dyer has launched a passionate defence of son-in-law Jarrod Bowen after the West Ham captain was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup
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BBC/PA
Jarrod Bowen failed to make England’s World Cup squad despite another stellar season with West Ham
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PA
“He didn’t get called, which is a joke, by the way. I might be slightly biased, but that boy…
“We were half booking flights. That’s how confident we were. Then it turns out he got the call saying no.
“So it’s a tough weekend for the kid.”
Dyer continued by praising Bowen’s character and claiming England could come to regret leaving him behind.
“He’s got a big heart and he should be on that plane,” he added. “I think it’s ridiculous.
“Without Jarrod, they’re going to be pony. They’re going to struggle.
“I don’t think we’ll beat Croatia in the first game.
“As soon as we’ve had a proper test, we’ve failed. I hope I’m wrong, but Jarrod should be on that plane.”
The frustration is understandable given Bowen’s performances throughout the season.
Despite West Ham’s struggles, the winger contributed nine goals and 11 assists across all competitions and remained one of the club’s most consistent performers during a turbulent campaign.
His England omission also came as a surprise to some observers because of his involvement under Tuchel before the squad announcement.
Bowen featured in six of England’s eight matches leading up to the World Cup and appeared to be firmly in contention for a place in the final group.
Danny Dyer is expecting England to struggle at this summer’s World Cup
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PA
Instead, he has been left watching from home while the Three Lions prepare for their opening match against Croatia.
The disappointment has capped a difficult period for the forward, who carried the added responsibility of captaining West Ham during their relegation battle.
Having established himself as one of the club’s most important players since arriving in 2020, Bowen was unable to steer the Hammers to safety as they dropped into the Championship.
His future is now likely to become a major talking point during the summer transfer window.
A number of Premier League clubs have previously been linked with the England international, including Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Any move to Spurs would undoubtedly raise eyebrows among West Ham supporters given the fierce rivalry between the clubs and the fact Tottenham survived while the Hammers went down.