Softfootball reviews that soccer icon Wayne Rooney has as soon as once more stirred up debate throughout English soccer, this time questioning whether or not Phil Foden truly suits into Thomas Tuchel’s England beginning XI.
The previous Three Lions captain made the feedback throughout a full of life video episode of The Overlap Fan Debate posted by way of their official X account, hosted by Jamie Carragher, and the clip has since been bouncing round social media.
Watch the video beneath:
Rooney didn’t hesitate when naming Jude Bellingham as the primary midfielder on his workforce sheet, stressing that the Actual Madrid star brings the sort of box-to-box power England will want in massive video games. He even urged Tuchel ought to use Bellingham to “set a marker down,” particularly with the 2026 World Cup getting shut.
However the shock got here when the dialog shifted to Phil Foden. Regardless of calling Foden his “favorite England participant,” Rooney admitted bluntly, that he truly don’t suppose Foden performs. He acknowledged the Manchester Metropolis star’s patchy England kind and hinted that his position isn’t as simple as many followers assume.
He defined:
Jude will likely be within the squad 100%… He must be within the workforce. I believe he has to Thomas Tuchel has set a marker down and put him within the workforce.
I like Phil Foden. I like him. and I believe he’s good, he struggled a bit final season, didn’t he? If Phil’s taking part in match in my view he must play as properly in order that the issue for Thomas Tuchel.
Carragher then reminded him of Tuchel’s stance that Foden is just not a winger. Rooney doubled down, saying he’d nonetheless begin Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon out vast due to their depth, suggesting a midfield the place Bellingham edges Foden in high-pressure matches.
He defined:
I truly don’t suppose Foden performs. He’s my favorite participant, however I believe in massive video games towards the higher groups, I believe Jude can play within the three midfield as a result of he’s extra of a box-to-box participant, and I believe Saka and Anthony Gordon should play.
Rooney’s feedback land at a difficult second for Tuchel, who formally took over in January 2025 and has already proven he isn’t afraid to shuffle massive names. In England’s current 2-nil win over Serbia, he averted beginning Kane, Bellingham and Foden collectively, however within the 2-nil victory over Albania, he handed minutes to all three gamers, a transparent trace at how severely he takes stability.
Foden, now 25 and essential to Manchester Metropolis’s success, has struggled to translate his membership kind to the nationwide workforce, scoring simply 4 objectives in 40 caps. Bellingham, in the meantime, continues to shine for Madrid and England at solely 22. Rooney even urged Jack Grealish might miss the World Cup solely, joking that he would possibly as properly e book his summer season vacation.
With qualifiers coming quick and strain constructing, Tuchel’s midfield dilemma is nowhere near solved. However one factor is for certain: Rooney’s feedback have added gas to a debate that’s not slowing down anytime quickly. How will England be capable of maximise the inventive capacity of Phil Foden?
