Rooney Slams England’s Lack of Experience in Euro 2024 Campaign, Calls for Seasoned Players.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, former Three Lions striker Wayne Rooney expressed his concerns about the squad’s lack of experience during England’s Euro 2024 campaign. Despite finishing at the top of their group with five points, England faced criticism for their lacklustre performances in Germany.

Rooney, who has played over a century for England and won multiple major tournaments, believes that experienced players like Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish, and Marcus Rashford are crucial to the team’s success. While Maguire was sidelined due to injury and Rashford and Grealish were not included in the final squad, Rooney thinks their presence could have made a significant difference for England.

“Gareth Southgate did an excellent job selecting his squad,” said Rooney, “but we all know that experience is key in high-pressure tournaments like the Euros.” He believes that having seasoned players who have excelled for the national team before would have provided much-needed guidance and leadership for younger players on the squad.

While there were calls to exclude certain players and include others who were performing well at their clubs, Rooney emphasized that experience is essential when it comes to competing on the international stage. “It’s important to remember that experience matters,” he said. “Even if a player has had a less than stellar season at their club, they can still bring valuable knowledge and skills to the national team.”

Rooney encouraged listeners to tune in to hear more insights on this topic by tuning into the full episode on BBC Sounds.