Harry Maguire was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, and Wayne Rooney called the decision “very unlucky” given Maguire’s recent form. Maguire had 66 England appearances and previously reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the last eight in 2022. Injury kept him out of Euro 2024, but a recall for March internationals raised hopes for the tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Rooney suggested Tuchel may have avoided disrespecting Maguire by selecting him without a clear role, and he believed the key defender choice was between Maguire and Dan Burn, with Burn selected. Rooney also noted Tuchel’s handling of the number 10 role and warned of potential media backlash if Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is chosen over Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
"“I think the Maguire one was the big one for me, which was bit of shock, ” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Podcast. “I think if you look at him on form, I think Harry Maguire is very unlucky not to be in it. Maybe he's [Thomas Tuchel] thinking he doesn't want to be disrespectful to Harry Maguire and take him and not play him. I don't know. ”"
"“I'm sure they've had conversations. The big call out of the defenders, [was probably] Harry or Dan Burn and Tuchel has obviously chosen to go with Dan. “Even the decisions I don't like I think I've got a trust in Tuchel and in him as a manager from everything we've seen.”"
"Rooney, 40, won 120 caps and scored 53 goals for England between 2003 and 2018. And having represented his country at six major tournaments, he believes the England boss has largely made the right calls around the number 10 position, with Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham preferred to Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White."
"Rooney said the German's next test will be dealing with the potential furore if Aston Villa's Rogers is selected ahead of Real Madrid's Bellingham. “I think that's a challenge which Tuchel has to be ready for,” Rooney added. “I'm sure he's prepared and if he doesn't start, I'm sure he knows what comes with that from the media, from Jude, from Jude's family.”"
Read at www.bbc.com
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