Wayne Rooney questions Thomas Tuchel over decision to select Chelsea duo in England’s World Cup squad

Wayne Rooney has questioned Thomas Tuchel’s decision to call up Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah to England’s World Cup squad, picking out the squad’s defensive options as his ‘big worry’ for the tournament.

James made the cut as Tuchel unveiled his 26-man party last month and played every minute of England’s two opening Group L matches against Croatia and Ghana.

But James was subsequently forced to miss the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over Panama due to a hamstring problem, the latest in a long line of injuries suffered by the Chelsea captain in recent years.

The 26-year-old right-back is also set to miss the side’s upcoming round of 32 clash with DR Congo and there are fears he may not be fit to return until the latter stages, should Tuchel’s men progress.

Before England even got their campaign up and running, Tuchel also lost Tino Livramento to injury, with Chelsea defender Chalobah called up in place of the versatile Newcastle full-back.

Tottenham’s Djed Spence is expected to be given the nod on the right of England’s defence tomorrow evening, in a back-four potentially consisting of Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly.

‘Are you surprised that Reece James is injured? That was a concern with the squad he picked,’ ex-England and Manchester United captain Rooney said on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show.

‘You’ve got Reece James who you can’t rely on, you’ve got John Stones who you can’t rely on, Tino Livramento was injured before the tournament.

‘And the big surprise was Trevoh Chalobah getting brought in when Livramento went home. I just think having that balance with Luke Shaw or Lewis Hall…

‘The concern with the last game, whether or not he does it tomorrow [against DR Congo], is that if you’ve got Djed Spence there, you have to play him at right-back. I don’t think Jarell Quansah worked.

‘So the defence was a big worry for me, more so than Phil Foden and Cole Palmer not going. I think the defence, just in terms of reliability, was a concern.’

For Rooney, it was ‘impossible’ that James was ever going to be reliable for the entirety of England’s campaign.

‘Reece James is a good player but we knew before the tournament that you cannot rely on him. He hasn’t been reliable for the last two years,’ he added.

‘It would be interesting to look at [James’ injury record] when Thomas Tuchel was at Chelsea.

‘I think everyone knew that was the situation and with the John Stones situation.

‘When you’re a player who constantly gets injured, to go to a World Cup and have to rely on you for the eight games in a short period of time, for Reece James, for me, going in, it was impossible he was going to be able to do that.

‘I didn’t get why Tuchel didn’t take him off in the first game and bring Kobbie Mainoo on, bring Spence on, and put him in midfield.

‘He [James] can’t do it, he physically can’t do it. And that’s not me having a go at Reece James, that’s just the reality that he can’t do it.’

On the prospect of Declan Rice filling in as a makeshift right-back, Rooney bluntly replied: ‘I hope not!’

Rooney – England’s second highest goalscorer in history – believes Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will be key if the Three Lions are to bring their 60-year wait for the trophy to an end this summer.

‘If we win the tournament then it’s because of them, more so Harry Kane from my point of view,’ he explained.

‘I think Jude is one of those players who lifts his team-mates, probably not even knowing he’s doing it, in terms of desire and hunger.

‘Harry is the one who you’re relying on with his goals.

‘Jude will have big moments and he’ll win us the game at some point, but Harry’s goals will be the one thing, I think, which if we win the tournament then it will be because of Harry’s goals.

‘But there will be one game, it might be a semi-final, where it’s tight and that’s where Jude will go and take the game.’

England lock horns with DR Congo at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium tomorrow, knowing a potential contest versus co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador awaits them in the round of 16.

Should they advance through, the Three Lions would then face off against one of Brazil, the Ivory Coast or Norway for a spot in the quarter-finals.

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