Wayne Rooney believes the Football Association should maintain its trust in England head coach Thomas Tuchel, provided that hiring Pep Guardiola is not a realistic alternative. Following England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, Tuchel still retains the FA’s support. Despite facing criticism for his late-game tactical shifts that saw a 1-0 advantage vanish, the German manager has expressed his commitment to steering the squad through to Euro 2028.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former striker noted, I don’t see anyone else available at the moment, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola. If he is available, that is the only exception. Rooney commended Tuchel’s managerial pedigree but questioned the timing of the two-year contract extension granted in February, calling the decision to reward a manager before a tournament success a bit strange.
Rooney also raised concerns regarding the 26-man World Cup squad selection. He argued that omitting high-profile talents like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in favor of players simply content to be in the camp hurt the team’s competitive edge. You need players with their own personalities and character to question the manager at times, he added. Nevertheless, Rooney remains convinced that Tuchel is the best available candidate to lead England into the next tournament.
