Soccer
Wayne Rooney says Thomas Tuchel being a ‘winner’ could count in England’s favour
Wayne Rooney believes Thomas Tuchel’s reputation as a “winner” could count in England’s favour at the World Cup after a series of near-misses under Gareth Southgate.
England were beaten in the final at the last two European Championships and reached the last four at the 2018 World Cup, underlining Southgate’s tenure as a case of being so near yet so far.
Tuchel has led England into this summer’s World Cup after succeeding Southgate, with the decision to appoint the German initially surprising Rooney, who felt a homegrown coach could have taken charge.
But Rooney accepts Tuchel’s CV, which includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea and a domestic treble at Paris St Germain, could be invaluable if England reach the latter stages of the World Cup.
“Over the last few years they’ve done really well in the competitions and just fell short,” Rooney told the Press Association. “Thomas Tuchel’s come in and looks like he’s doing a really good job.
“I’ve worked with Gareth briefly with England, I’ve never worked with Tuchel. But I think the difference is Tuchel is a winner, he’s won big trophies before.
“Sometimes when you get to a certain stage of competitions, that experience really does help. Hopefully he can take us to that next level.
“I hope England get to the last four. If they get to the last four then anything can happen. With the experience of Thomas Tuchel and some of the players in the squad who have been there before, it will hopefully help us get over the line.”
Rooney is a fan of Tuchel throwing players’ reputations out the door, pointing to the selection of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who has recently been preferred to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
“He’s done what was expected in terms of getting England to the World Cup,” Rooney said. “There’s been good signs.
“You look at Morgan Rogers, for instance, coming into the squad then you’ve got the likes of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer all fighting to try to be in the team and at the minute, you’d probably say that’s Morgan Rogers’ spot with the way he’s been playing.
“It’s quite refreshing to see that he’s playing people on their form and how they perform for him.”
Rooney – who will don the England whites again on May 31 for Soccer Aid, the annual charity match which raises money for UNICEF – also had a warning for Tuchel’s side ahead of their trip to North America.
England are set to have all three group stage matches in the United States, where former Manchester United and England captain Rooney played for DC United towards the end of a decorated professional career.
“It will be difficult with the heat and humidity – I’ve experienced that first-hand, playing over in the States,” Rooney said.
“The big thing I found playing over there was where your body normally recovers in a couple of days, sometimes it can take three or four days for your body to recover and then that’s leading into your preparation for your next game.
“I know they’ll be preparing for that and hopefully they’ll get their preparations right.”
:: Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on May 31 at the London Stadium. Adult tickets start from £20 and juniors from £10. See socceraid.org.uk
