England will meet Argentina in the World Cup semi‑final after the South American side defeated Switzerland to secure their place in the match that decides who will challenge Spain for the title.
Former England forward Wayne Rooney weighed in on the upcoming game, saying he is keen to see how manager Thomas Tuchel will arrange his side, noting that the starting eleven remains uncertain hours before kickoff.
Rooney highlighted the experimental line‑up used against Norway, where players were shifted to unfamiliar positions, and praised the willingness to take high‑risk decisions that can pay off when they succeed.
He suggested a possible midfield tweak, dropping Jude Bellingham into a three‑man unit while deploying Marcus Rashford on the right and Conor Gallagher on the left to provide width and pace.
Rooney also floated the idea of using Marc Guehi at left‑back to neutralise Lionel Messi’s tendency to drift toward the right wing before cutting inside.
Regarding the right‑back role, Rooney stressed that if Reece James is fully fit, he should start, describing him as the best option available in the squad.
He applied the same logic to centre‑back John Stones, stating that the defender’s inclusion should be based solely on his fitness level.
While other former players have advocated for Bukayo Saka’s inclusion, Rooney’s comments focused on maintaining defensive stability while exploiting England’s attacking strengths.
The tactical choices made by Tuchel will be crucial as England seeks to contain Argentina’s potent offense and advance to a historic final.
