Wayne Rooney says Gareth Southgate ‘killed’ two England players during the Three Lions’ underwhelming group stage at Euro 2024.
England travelled to Germany as favourites to win the Euros and bring home the nation’s first major trophy in men’s football since 1966.
But confidence began to fade during an uninspiring group stage in which England laboured to a 1-0 victory over Serbia and failed to beat Denmark and Slovenia.
Much criticism has been aimed at Southgate for his tactics and Three Lions legend Rooney believes he ‘killed’ Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher by throwing them both into midfield before quickly ‘discarding’ them.
Alexander-Arnold, who has spent most of his career at right-back for Liverpool, started alongside Declan Rice against Serbia and Denmark to mixed success, before Chelsea’s Gallagher came in for the Slovenia game only to be hauled off at half-time.
Kobbie Mainoo was Southgate’s third option in midfield and Rooney reckons the England boss has now stumbled upon his best set-up in the centre of the pitch, while he also wants Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer more involved in the last-16 clash against Slovakia.
‘Against Slovenia, Kobbie Mainoo staked a big claim for a starting place, Cole Palmer was very good and Anthony Gordon, though he played only a few minutes, had a couple of excellent touches,’ Rooney told The Times.
‘At just the right time in the tournament, Gareth may have stumbled upon the right team. I would play at least two of those three youngsters against Slovakia – and, in fact, I said before the tournament that my starting XI for the knockout stage would have Mainoo and Gordon in it.
‘None of what happened in the group stage surprised me. I would never have played Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and expected that, when the experiment didn’t work, Gareth would try Conor Gallagher.
‘Gareth killed both a bit by discarding them, but in each case it was the right call and when Mainoo came in you saw him making forward runs and showing composure on the ball.
‘Palmer? He is just suited to international football. He can take the ball, he’s calm on it and has the personality you need on that stage. Gordon is more direct than the other two and ensures there is a good blend.
‘With those three on the pitch you saw runners going beyond Harry which, good as Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Foden are, we had not seen from them.’
If England overcome Slovakia, who finished third in Group E, they will face Euros holders Italy or Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
Rating England’s chances of becoming European champions, Rooney added: ‘I think they have a great chance of winning these Euros, I really do.
‘They won their group, are into a half of the draw where they avoid the biggest teams and we know – and they know – they can play a lot better.’