Wayne Rooney ‘shocked’ by Gareth Southgate’s bizarre Euro 2024 decision

Wayne Rooney said he was ‘really shocked’ Gareth Southgate didn’t bring a fully fit left-back to Euro 2024 and ‘very surprised’ Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell failed to make it part of the England team.

Southgate admitted he took a “risk” in selecting Luke Shaw in his 26-man squad despite the left-back’s injury-plagued season at Manchester United.

England were hoping Shaw would be fit enough to feature in the second group match against Denmark, but the 28-year-old was absent for the entire group stage and remains a brace for the last 16.

That forced Kieran Trippier to come on at left-back, but the Newcastle United star failed to offer much in attack despite contributing to the best defensive record at Euro 2024.

Some pundits have suggested that Kyle Walker should move to left-back to offer England more power behind Phil Foden and allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to play on the right, while Ian Wright has even suggested dropping Bukayo Saka in this role.

All these headaches could have been avoided, according to Rooney, if Southgate had chosen Chelsea’s Chilwell in the team.

Like Shaw, Chilwell also struggled with injuries during the 2023-24 campaign but featured for the Blues towards the end of the season.

“I was really surprised and really shocked that Ben Chilwell wasn’t picked,” Rooney said on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast.

“It’s just to balance out having a left-footed player. You’re talking about a Chelsea player. He’s been good for England in the past, he’s a good left-back and he’s played in tournaments as well.

“So I was really surprised he didn’t make the cut and now you’re left with (Kieran) Trippier or (Joe) Gomez.”

Rooney added: “I think at the moment it’s got to be Trippier or Gomez playing there.

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“Or do you bring in Kyle (Walker)? For me he has been the best right back in the world over the last few years, do you take that away from England?

“There are so many imbalances and questions from that point of view. The left side of the field was a bit of a problem for me.

“That’s the one area where I don’t know what he’ll do. It’ll be interesting to see what Gareth Southgate does in the next game.

Despite a disappointing performance so far in Germany, England have qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 as winners of Group C.

Southgate’s side face Slovakia in the round of 16 on Sunday before a possible meeting with Switzerland or reigning European champions Italy in the quarter-finals.

Rooney is optimistic England’s performances will improve in the last 16 but admits it is a “problem” that so many star players are underperforming.

“There are so many really good attacking players in the team: Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka,” he said.

“We see them playing every week for their clubs, but not for England. There is definitely a problem. »

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