Rooney Says Tuchel Should Have Called Kyle Walker Out of Retirement

Wayne Rooney has told Thomas Tuchel he should have picked up the phone to Kyle Walker the moment England's right back injury crisis began, suggesting the retired defender could have solved a problem that nearly cost the Three Lions their World Cup on Wednesday night.

England scraped past DR Congo 2 1 in the round of 32, needing a late Harry Kane brace to turn the game around after Brian Cipenga had given the African side a shock seventh minute lead in Atlanta. It was only the second time in England's history that they have won a World Cup knockout match after conceding first, the other coming in the 1966 final.

Speaking on BBC's post match coverage, Rooney focused on the problems England have had at right back all tournament. Tino Livramento withdrew from the squad before it even began with a calf injury and was replaced by Trevoh Chalobah, while first choice Reece James has missed the tournament with a hamstring problem. Jarell Quansah filled in against Panama, and on Wednesday it was Djed Spence's turn to struggle, eventually making way for Declan Rice, who ended up playing the position instead.

For Rooney, the answer was sitting at home in England the whole time.

"We've seen it before. It's happened before where players come out of retirement," Rooney said. "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."

The former captain went further, describing what he would have said to the 35 year old Burnley defender himself. "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."

Walker retired from international football in March, ending a fourteen year England career that brought him 96 caps and appearances at five major tournaments, including finals at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. He is now 35 and playing his football in the Championship with Burnley.

Rooney's suggestion ran into an obvious problem almost as soon as he made it. World Cup squads are locked in before the tournament starts, and FIFA does not allow teams to bring in replacements once the competition is underway, injury or otherwise. Tuchel could not have called up Walker after Livramento pulled out even if he had wanted to, since England's squad for the tournament was already finalised. That detail did not stop the idea from spreading quickly online, where it was met with a fair amount of scorn. Plenty of fans questioned whether a 35 year old who has not played international football in over a year would really have solved anything, with some calling it among the worst punditry they had seen all tournament.

Rooney also used his appearance to raise wider concerns about how open England have looked defensively, warning that sides better than DR Congo will punish the same mistakes going forward.

England now turn their attention to co hosts Mexico in the round of 16, a game that will take them to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City as they continue chasing a first World Cup since 1966.