Wayne Rooney has expressed faith in Thomas Tuchel’s ability to lead England to glory at the upcoming World Cup, after disappointments in recent tournaments.
The Three Lions have been beaten finalists in the last two European Championships edition, while they also reached the last four of the World Cup under former head coach Gareth Southgate.
Tuchel was appointed in 2025 and recently signed a contract extension that keeps him until after the 2028 Euros, giving him a huge chance of winning the country’s first major trophy since 1966.
Speaking during an interview, Rooney believes Tuchel’s winning mentality could be what the team needs to finally end their trophy drought.
“Over the last few years they’ve done really well in the competitions and just fell short. Thomas Tuchel’s come in and looks like he’s doing a really good job”, Rooney stated.
“I’ve worked with Gareth briefly with England, I’ve never worked with Tuchel. But I think the difference is Tuchel is a winner, he’s won big trophies before.
“Sometimes when you get to a certain stage of competitions, that experience really does help. Hopefully he can take us to that next level”, the former Manchester United forward continued.
“I hope England get to the last four. If they get to the last four then anything can happen. With the experience of Thomas Tuchel and some of the players in the squad who have been there before, it will hopefully help us get over the line.”
England face Uruguay and Japan in two preparatory games for the World Cup, before Tuchel names his squad in May.
The Three Lions will compete in group L of the World Cup this summer, alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama and will be among the favorites to lift the prestigious trophy.
“He’s done what was expected in terms of getting England to the World Cup,” Rooney added.
“There’s been good signs. It’s quite refreshing to see that he’s playing people on their form and how they perform for him”, he concluded.
England continue their preparations towards the World Cup when they welcome Uruguay to Wembley on Friday night, giving Tuchel a chance to have a look at some of the players who could be on the plane to represent the country later in the year.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
