Wayne Rooney has publicly questioned Thomas Tuchel's decision to include Chelsea duo Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah in England's World Cup squad, highlighting defensive reliability as his primary concern for the tournament. The former England captain expressed his doubts during an episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, pointing to James's persistent injury record and the surprising call-up of Chalobah.
Rooney's concerns over defensive selections
James, 26, was named in Tuchel's 26-man squad and played the full 90 minutes in England's opening Group L matches against Croatia and Ghana. However, a hamstring problem forced him to miss the 2-0 victory over Panama, and he is also set to sit out the round of 32 clash with DR Congo. There are fears he may not return until the latter stages of the tournament, should England progress. Tuchel also lost Tino Livramento to injury before the campaign began, with Chalobah called up as a replacement.
Rooney said: 'Are you surprised that Reece James is injured? That was a concern with the squad he picked. You've got Reece James who you can't rely on, you've got John Stones who you can't rely on, Tino Livramento was injured before the tournament. And the big surprise was Trevoh Chalobah getting brought in when Livramento went home.'
Defensive lineup and tactical worries
Tottenham's Djed Spence is expected to start at right-back against DR Congo, in a back-four potentially featuring Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, and Nico O'Reilly. Rooney questioned the balance of the squad, noting the absence of Luke Shaw or Lewis Hall. He added: 'The concern with the last game, whether or not he does it tomorrow, is that if you've got Djed Spence there, you have to play him at right-back. I don't think Jarell Quansah worked. So the defence was a big worry for me, more so than Phil Foden and Cole Palmer not going. I think the defence, just in terms of reliability, was a concern.'
Rooney argued that it was 'impossible' to rely on James for an entire World Cup campaign. 'Reece James is a good player but we knew before the tournament that you cannot rely on him. He hasn't been reliable for the last two years. It would be interesting to look at his injury record when Thomas Tuchel was at Chelsea. I think everyone knew that was the situation and with the John Stones situation. When you're a player who constantly gets injured, to go to a World Cup and have to rely on you for the eight games in a short period of time, for Reece James, for me, going in, it was impossible he was going to be able to do that.'
Key players for England's success
Rooney suggested that Tuchel should have substituted James earlier in the first match to bring on Kobbie Mainoo or Spence, moving James into midfield. He dismissed the idea of Declan Rice playing as a makeshift right-back, bluntly saying: 'I hope not!'
Despite his defensive concerns, Rooney believes Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will be crucial if England are to end their 60-year trophy drought. 'If we win the tournament then it's because of them, more so Harry Kane from my point of view. I think Jude is one of those players who lifts his team-mates, probably not even knowing he's doing it, in terms of desire and hunger. Harry is the one who you're relying on with his goals. Jude will have big moments and he'll win us the game at some point, but Harry's goals will be the one thing, I think, which if we win the tournament then it will be because of Harry's goals. But there will be one game, it might be a semi-final, where it's tight and that's where Jude will go and take the game.'
England's path ahead
England face DR Congo at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a potential round of 16 match against co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador. Should they advance, a quarter-final clash against Brazil, the Ivory Coast, or Norway awaits.
