Former England captain Wayne Rooney believes Harry Maguire was unfortunate to miss out on Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
Rooney said Maguire’s recent form deserved recognition and suggested the decision may have come down to Tuchel preferring Dan Burn instead. Despite disagreeing with some selections, Rooney expressed trust in Tuchel’s judgment and leadership.
Rooney also discussed England’s attacking midfield choices, supporting Tuchel’s preference for players like Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham over others such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. He noted that Bellingham’s strong personality and ability to produce big moments make him impossible to leave out, even if managing him could be challenging.
Rooney was particularly pleased to see Ivan Toney recalled after his successful season in Saudi Arabia. He praised Toney’s goal-scoring ability and believes having multiple natural strikers gives England valuable attacking options, especially when chasing games.
Rooney also emphasized the need to carefully manage Harry Kane during matches, suggesting Tuchel should rotate him more to keep him fresh in difficult tournament conditions.
Overall, Rooney feels Tuchel has assembled a strong and balanced squad capable of competing at the World Cup, even if some tough and controversial decisions had to be made.