Rooney Backs Tuchel Despite Three Eyebrow-Raising World Cup Picks

Wayne Rooney has given his backing to Thomas Tuchel's England squad selection for the imminent World Cup, even as he acknowledged the Three Lions boss has raised more than a few eyebrows with his team decisions.

With the tournament just under two weeks away, Tuchel remains in the final stages of preparation. His squad selections have already drawn scrutiny, particularly from former manager Sam Allardyce, who has taken issue with a couple of the calls.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Rooney conceded that Tuchel's choices merit the label "controversial," yet insisted the manager deserves trust to make them work.

"I think the squad Thomas Tuchel has picked, there's a couple which I've said that maybe might have went another way, but I think we have to trust in the team he's picked," Rooney explained.

He went on to highlight the intangible qualities Tuchel values beyond pure playing ability. "When you look at leadership and just get to talk about do you want a place around the training camp, which is a good place to be around, you can never guarantee that. One little thing can happen and that doesn't happen, but I think he's got a good squad, a squad that's capable of winning the World Cup."

The most glaring omissions—no Foden, no Palmer, and no Gibbs-White despite his recent form—have certainly sparked debate. Yet Rooney framed Tuchel's approach as a deliberate departure from the usual criticism levelled at England management.

"It's controversial, but I think as a nation we've been criticising managers for always picking the best players. He's gone the other way and I hope it pays off. I trust him, I think he's a fantastic manager and if anyone can pull it off, I think he can."

Koeman: England Will Lean on Set Pieces

Meanwhile, Ronald Koeman has offered his own assessment of England's prospects, with the Netherlands boss predicting a tactical shift at the tournament.

Koeman suspects the World Cup will unfold with slightly reduced intensity compared to club football's peak moments, and he reckons England will exploit this by prioritising set-piece situations.

"I do think that there will be a little less intensity. I don't believe you'll get a game like Paris against Bayern. Especially not the first game," Koeman said.

"But you can also see it in England with their squad. They are going to gamble on throw-ins, corners. That will be an important item [in their playbook] because that doesn't cost any energy."

He drew a parallel with Arsenal's recent domestic success, crediting their corner routine as a decisive factor in their title challenge. "I think Arsenal became champions because of corners. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made it."