Wayne Rooney claims that England manager Gareth Southgate “killed” Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher by “discarding them” at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions manager has spent the group stage deciding whether Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, or Kobbie Mainoo will be the best option in midfield with Declan Rice.
England won Group C despite dismal performances against Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia, and Southgate is still trying to figure out his best team.
But Rooney believes Southgate should stay with Manchester United midfielder Mainoo against Slovakia in the last 16, while also considering starting Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer.
“Against Slovenia, Kobbie Mainoo staked a big claim for a starting place, Cole Palmer was very good and Anthony Gordon, though he played only a few minutes, had a couple of excellent touches,” Rooney told the paper.
“Gareth may have discovered the right squad at the perfect time in the competition. I would play at least two of those three young players against Slovakia, and I had stated before the tournament that Mainoo and Gordon would be in my starting XI for the knockout stage.
“Nothing that happened during the group stage shocked me. I would never have started Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and predicted that if the experiment failed, Gareth would try Conor Gallagher.
“Gareth killed both by tossing them, but in each case it was the correct decision, and when Mainoo came in, you saw him making forward runs and displaying poise on the ball.
“Palmer? He is perfectly suited to international football. He can handle the ball, is calm on it, and has the personality you need on stage. Gordon is more direct than the other two, which maintains a healthy balance.
“With those three on the pitch you saw runners going beyond Harry which, good as Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Foden are, we had not seen from them.”
Southgate hauled Gallagher off at halftime in their final group encounter, a 0-0 draw against Slovenia, and former Germany international Didi Hamann stated earlier this week that he doubts the Chelsea midfielder will feature at Euro 2024.
Hamann told RTE that Gallagher isn’t or wasn’t a problem. He is not the problem for the England team.
“It is probably too late now. Going after the lesser players does not reflect well on the manager, and that is what he has done throughout the tournament.
“He has taken Alexander-Arnold; he is an easy target. Gallagher leaves at halftime. We probably won’t see Gallagher again for the rest of the tournament.
