Wayne Rooney believes England’s World Cup campaign may yet be shaped by players who have spent much of the tournament waiting in the background.
England duo Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney could play a ‘big role’ at the World Cup, says Wayne Rooney (Picture: BBC)
The Three Lions have reached the quarter-finals after a hard-fought win over DR Congo and a chaotic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca. Thomas Tuchel has relied heavily on a settled core so far, with Jordan Pickford, Ezri Konsa, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane starting every match. Declan Rice remains a first-choice figure when fit, even though a calf problem kept him out of the final group game against Panama.
But with England now preparing for a huge clash against Norway in Miami, Rooney has warned that the workload cannot fall on the same group forever. The former England and Manchester United captain says players such as Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Kobbie Mainoo could still have a major part to play if England are to reach the final.
Rooney’s point is simple: tournament football becomes a battle of recovery as much as quality. Kane and Bellingham have been inspirational, but asking them to carry England through every round without rotation creates obvious risk. The schedule, the travel, the heat and the emotional drain of knockout football all build up quickly.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, he said it would be very difficult for the same key players to keep starting every match all the way to the final. He believes Tuchel will need fresh legs and trusted alternatives, especially if England face more demanding opponents later in the tournament.
Watkins and Toney have had limited opportunities so far, with Toney yet to play a single minute. However, Rooney feels both strikers could become important, either from the bench or if Kane needs managing. Their different styles could give England valuable options in tight matches, particularly when defenders are tired and spaces begin to open late on.
Watkins and Toney are waiting in the wings for England (Picture: Getty)
Rooney also raised the case of Mainoo, admitting he was surprised the midfielder had not featured more. With Jordan Henderson injured after a freak accident and Rice managing fitness issues earlier in the competition, Mainoo may suddenly become a more important part of the squad. Rooney suggested England will need him ready if anything happens to Rice or Anderson.
Rooney represented England at three World Cups (Picture: Getty)
Right-back is another major issue for Tuchel. Injuries to Tino Livramento and Reece James had already complicated the position before Jarell Quansah’s red card against Mexico ruled him out of the Norway game. Rooney believes Djed Spence should now be trusted, arguing that England should use a natural right-back rather than forcing another centre-back into the role.
He praised Spence’s impact against Croatia and said the player was brought to the tournament for exactly this type of moment. For Rooney, the logic is clear: if a specialist right-back is available, he should start there.
Haaland will be looking to destroy England’s dream in Miami (Picture: Getty)
The former England striker also wants greater control from the midfield. He feels Rice and Anderson should stay closer together instead of becoming stretched across the pitch. Against stronger technical sides such as Spain, France or Argentina, Rooney warned that England cannot spend long periods chasing the ball without structure.
Despite those concerns, Rooney is not backing away from his pre-tournament belief that England can win the World Cup. He still sees enough pace, power and attacking quality in the squad to hurt any opponent. But he believes Tuchel’s team must be smarter, more controlled and less reliant on emotional survival.
Rooney hopes to see Spence given the nod at right-back (Picture: Getty)
Norway will arrive with Erling Haaland and their own momentum after knocking out Brazil, making Saturday’s quarter-final a huge test. For England, the stars have carried them this far. Rooney’s message is that the so-called forgotten men may now be needed to finish the job.
