BBC’s Wayne Rooney blasted for ‘worst punditry of World Cup’ after England win | Football | Sport

Wayne Rooney has been hammered on social media for sharing a bold opinion mere minutes after England‘s dramatic 2-1 win over DR Congo at the World Cup. Rooney was working from the BBC studio in Salford as Harry Kane saved the Three Lions in the United States with a late second-half brace. Kane’s double puts England into the round of 16 where they will face co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City in the late hours of Monday morning.

During the BBC‘s post-match analysis after England survived a huge scare, Rooney suggested that Thomas Tuchel should have called retired right-back Kyle Walker, now 36, to replace Tino Livramento last month. The German head coach instead recruited Trevoh Chalobah as the replacement for the injured Newcastle full-back. But Rooney said: “We’ve seen it before. It’s happened before where players come out of retirement. I think the minute Livramento got injured, I think he should have been right on the phone to Kyle Walker.

“Kyle is still more than good enough and more than capable of playing in this England team. I would have been on the phone to him saying, ‘Listen we need you here. Can you come out and help us?’ That could really cost us. I’m worried on that.”

But that comment saw Manchester United‘s all-time top goalscorer slaughtered by England fans, with Walker’s best days long behind him. @Sidler28 wrote on X: “Wayne Rooney is an excellent pundit but Kyle Walker?!? Give over lad.”

While @Joey_CFC said: “Wayne Rooney saying Kyle Walker is the answer to our RB issue might be the worst bit of punditry I’ve seen this tournament.” And @TrueBlueFooty added: “Rooney was doing so well on punditry until he suggested Kyle Walker should’ve been called up…”

Another fan, @Dan_Wall06, reacted: “I know it’s been a struggle at right back but Rooney calling for Kyle Walker being in the squad [two laughing emojis].” And @_ollie98 said: “rooney suggesting bringing kyle walker out of retirement LMAO.”

Likewise, @anLFCfan posted: “Kyle f*****g Walker!!!! Hahahah muppet.” And @RickersTwickers wrote: “Think Wayne Rooney might have lost his marbles there. Not sure he saw much of Kyle Walker last season.”

Elsewhere @dyeebBS said: “Rooney please, kyle walker?!?!?! [four laughing emojis].” And @exiledpep137 added: “Rooney talking about digging up the corpse of Kyle Walker to play RB tells you everything you need to know about his managerial career.”

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Rooney was concerned about the state of England’s defending against DR Congo after Brian Cipenga gave the underdogs a seventh-minute lead which they held until Kane’s equaliser with 15 minutes to go.

Rooney added: “We’re all delighted England have gone through but there’s big concerns. When England lose the ball they are so open. Against a better team…

“Give DR Congo credit, they caused England some problems, but against a better team I think we’re in big trouble if we don’t sort that out. We’re so open in midfield. The connection isn’t great between the backline and the midfield. The full-backs are struggling. [Noni] Madueke struggled.

“There’s no connection and there’s big gaps in the middle of the pitch and that’s a big worry for me. That’s not just in this game, it’s in previous games. He really needs to look at that otherwise we’ll go out.”

While his BBC Micah Richards colleague reflected: “I think he really struggled today, [Djed] Spence. I don’t want to keep going back to who you haven’t got but when you’ve got the injury to Livramento, it’s a problem. [Jarell] Quansah’s out, it’s a problem. Reece James.

“Now you’re thinking, could Trent [Alexander-Arnold]’s quality have given us something different in this game? Those are the question marks he will be asking himself now.

“If you want to go with [Declan] Rice at right-back, then you lose his pace and power in that midfield area. I think there’s certainly things England need to look at if they want to go further in this competition.”