Wayne Rooney blasted England manager Thomas Tuchel for leaving veteran centre‑back Harry Maguire out of the World Cup squad. Maguire, 33, has earned 66 caps and featured in the 2018 semi‑final run and Qatar’s last‑eight. An injury kept him from Euro 2024, but a March recall raised hopes he would travel to the USA, Mexico and Canada. His exclusion fuels debate over defensive depth.

Rooney argued the omission was a shock, suggesting Tuchel may have wanted to avoid disrespecting Maguire. He noted Dan Burn secured the other centre‑back spot, leaving the defender camp without his usual partner. On the midfield, Rooney praised the choice of Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers over Phil Foden, arguing the former’s impact outweighs any controversy. Rooney also warned the media will dissect defensive tweak.

The former Brentford striker Ivan Toney also earned a recall after netting 32 goals in the Saudi Pro League. Rooney lauded the three‑goal‑scorer trio alongside Harry Kane, saying Toney’s hold‑up play and finishing give England a reliable backup. His experience abroad adds a different tactical dimension for the squad.