Wayne Rooney has taken aim at Gareth Southgate for tinkering with England’s midfield at Euro 2024 and struggling to settle on a first-choice pairing.
The Three Lions have underwhelmed in the opening stages of the competition but still managed to top Group C, and luck was on their side as they have been offered a favourable route to the final compared to the likes of France and Germany.
England will have to improve markedly if they are to reach the latter stages of the Euros though, and Rooney believes that Southgate must solve his midfield conundrum as soon as possible and resist ‘killing’ players after poor performances.
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He told The Times: “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.
“At just the right time in the tournament, Gareth may have stumbled upon the right team. 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.”
Gallagher and Alexander-Arnold were both trialled alongside Declan Rice in the group stages but neither pairing convinced, with England lacking control in central areas despite having some of the best players in the entire competition.
Manchester United teen Mainoo is therefore expected to be the next in line to start in midfield for England, and his second-half performance against Slovenia will breed confidence into the Three Lions’ starting eleven.
Although the 19-year-old is not the No. 6 that many believe England need, the United academy graduate has shown that he is able to control games and ensure that he is an option for his attacking teammates in the final third.
If Southgate decides that Mainoo is not the answer to his prayers against Slovenia, Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton is the final option for the ex-Middlesbrough boss to turn to. The 20-year-old is more of a traditional holding midfielder who could be used to allow Rice to roam forward more frequently.
