Wayne Rooney has voiced worry over England’s right-back depth following a narrow 2-1 victory against DR Congo. The former striker believes manager Thomas Tuchel missed an opportunity to reinforce the squad by not reaching out to Kyle Walker when Tino Livramento was sidelined by a calf injury.
England’s defensive options remain thin. Trevoh Chalobah was selected as a replacement for Livramento, while Reece James remains unavailable due to a hamstring issue. Recent performances have been concerning, with Jarell Quansah struggling against Panama and Djed Spence facing significant difficulties during the match against DR Congo.
Against DR Congo, the team relied on a brace from Harry Kane to overcome an early deficit. The squad now looks ahead to a round of 16 clash against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. Speaking on BBC Sport, Rooney insisted that Walker still possesses the necessary quality to contribute to the national team. He argued that the coaching staff should have persuaded the veteran defender to return from international retirement to prevent potential defensive failures in upcoming rounds.
