Rooney Calls Maguire's World Cup Snub a Surprise as Tuchel's England Squad Takes Shape

Rooney Stunned by Maguire's Omission from England's World Cup Plans

Wayne Rooney, one of England's most decorated footballers, has described Harry Maguire's absence from Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad as the most surprising decision of the entire selection process — though he has largely praised the German head coach for his overall approach.

Maguire, the experienced Manchester United centre-back with 66 international caps to his name, has been a familiar figure in England squads for years. He played a key role when the Three Lions reached the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and was again part of the setup that made the quarter-finals in Qatar four years later. After injury forced him out of Euro 2024, a return to the international fold during March's fixtures had seemingly reignited his chances of boarding the plane for this summer's tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

However, Tuchel ultimately opted for Dan Burn over the 33-year-old defender, a call that clearly caught Rooney off guard.

'The Big Shock' — Rooney Defends Maguire's Case

"I think the Maguire one was the big one for me — it was a bit of a shock," Rooney said on his podcast. "If you look at him on current form, I think Harry Maguire is very unlucky not to be included. Maybe Tuchel felt it wouldn't be fair to bring him into the squad and then not play him. I'm not sure."

Rooney suggested the decision likely came down to a straight choice between Maguire and Burn, with Tuchel ultimately placing his faith in the latter. Despite his reservations about this particular call, Rooney made clear he trusts the England manager's judgment based on what he has witnessed so far.

"Even the decisions I disagree with, I still have faith in Tuchel and what he's building," he added.

Rowney himself enjoyed a distinguished international career, earning 120 caps and netting 53 goals for England across a 15-year period from 2003 to 2018. Having appeared at six major tournaments, he speaks with considerable authority on the pressures and complexities of international squad selection.

Bellingham and the Number 10 Debate

Beyond the defensive choices, Rooney turned his attention to the attacking midfield positions, where Tuchel has shown a preference for Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham over established names such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Rooney broadly backed this approach but acknowledged that managing Bellingham — particularly if the Real Madrid star is not in the starting lineup — could be one of Tuchel's trickiest challenges during the tournament.

Handling the Bellingham Factor

"That's a challenge Tuchel needs to be ready for," Rooney noted. "If Bellingham doesn't start, there will be noise from the media, from Jude himself, and from those around him. He's missed some camps, but you simply cannot leave him out of the squad."

Rooney described Bellingham as a maverick talent — unpredictable, occasionally difficult to manage, but absolutely essential to have in a World Cup setup.

"Jude has those big moments. We've already seen the evidence of that. You need that kind of player at a World Cup," he said.

Rooney Welcomes Toney's International Return

One selection that drew genuine enthusiasm from Rooney was the recall of Ivan Toney, the Al-Ahli striker who has been brought back into the England picture after a spell in the international wilderness.

Toney enjoyed a prolific season in the Saudi Pro League, scoring 32 goals, and before his move to the Middle East in 2024, he had demonstrated his quality in the Premier League with 36 goals in 85 appearances for Brentford.

Three Strikers, One Clear Vision

"He's a very good player who scores goals consistently — in the Premier League and now in Saudi Arabia. Scoring goals is never a bad habit," Rooney said.

"What I really like is that we now have three genuine number nines. If you need a goal late on, you want people on the pitch who know where the net is, not someone who wants to drop deep and play pretty football."

Rooney also pushed back against any suggestion that playing in Saudi Arabia should count against Toney, drawing a pointed comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo.

"No one questions Ronaldo's quality just because he's playing in Saudi Arabia," he remarked.

Toney featured for England at Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate, making three appearances — each as a late substitute when the team was chasing a result. England ultimately fell at the final hurdle, losing to Spain. His role under Tuchel is expected to follow a similar pattern, serving as a high-impact option off the bench behind first-choice striker Harry Kane.

Managing Kane's Minutes

Rooney also raised an important tactical point about Kane's usage, suggesting Tuchel must be willing to take England's record goalscorer off the pitch when the conditions demand it.

"Harry is England's all-time top scorer and he'll find the net wherever he plays. But Tuchel has to manage him carefully. In the final 20 minutes, with the heat, humidity, and altitude in those host cities, keeping Kane fresh could make a real difference," Rooney concluded.