Wayne Rooney calls Thomas Tuchel 'a top manager' ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Dorothy Howard

Wayne Rooney calls Thomas Tuchel 'a top manager' ahead of World Cup qualifiers image

England are preparing for the 2026 World Cup under manager Thomas Tuchel. 

The Three Lions play Andorra and Serbia in the coming days, with Tuchel having won his first three competitive games in charge of England. 

England have beaten Albania, Latvia, and Andorra under Tuchel, but lost in a friendly to Senegal. 

Tuchel has been criticized for his team's performances, but England legend Wayne Rooney has given his support to Tuchel. 

What did Rooney say about Tuchel?

Speaking on his BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England player said, "I think he's a top manager."

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"He's maybe got a little bit of stick about the way that England played, and those games [qualifiers] are just nonsense really.

"You turn up and you just know England are going to win the game. It's 10 men sitting behind the ball, and you've got to break them down, which is not easy against any team."

England's team lacked the liveliness that many were hoping to see under Tuchel, who was appointed as England's manager in 2025. 

Rooney continued, "I used to love playing for England. Watching England now and some of the games, you know they're going to win, it can be a bit boring. Obviously, getting into the tournament that's when you enjoy it.

"The last few games, it was against Andorra or something like that. It was painful. [I feel] sorry for Thomas Tuchel because he probably wants a decent game where he can go and show what he can do. It's a no-win [situation] really."

Securing two wins in the next week would seal England's spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The former player finished by saying, "I think for Thomas Tuchel, you want to see England having to sit back and defend and having tactically to break down teams.

"Against the better teams [that] will come. So, I think he'll do really well for England. Whether they'll win the World Cup... you don't know, I think that he's got one shot, hasn't he?"

More: Who has qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026? Updated list of nations confirmed for tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico

 

 

Dorothy Howard

Dorothy Howard is a freelance soccer writer for The Sporting News. Dorothy loves all things sports, especially soccer. She is unfortunately a hardcore Manchester United fan, but loves the USWNT. Since starting her career, she has published work for multiple sports sites, and is a trusted name in sports reporting.