Wayne Rooney questions Thomas Tuchel’s handling of Harry Kane after England’s win
Wayne Rooney has questioned Thomas Tuchel’s handling of Harry Kane after England beat Panama to finish top of their World Cup group, reports BritPanorama.
The Three Lions secured their place in the knockout stages with a 2-0 victory. However, Rooney expressed dissatisfaction at Kane remaining on the pitch until the 84th minute, despite England already having a comfortable lead.
Kane made history during the match in New Jersey, scoring the second goal by heading home from Jude Bellingham’s cross shortly after Bellingham had opened the scoring. This goal allowed the Bayern Munich striker to surpass Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading goalscorer at World Cup finals.
Rooney believes that Tuchel should have substituted Kane right after he scored, instead of keeping him on the field for nearly 20 additional minutes. Speaking on BBC One, he cautioned that Kane has appeared fatigued in past tournaments, warning Tuchel against repeating errors made by previous management.
“In previous tournaments with Harry Kane, I think he has looked a little bit tired towards the end of tournaments,” Rooney said. “He came off in the 84th minute; I think the minute he scored and England were 2-0 up and the game is done, get him off.”
Rooney further suggested that even brief periods of fatigue can be costly, noting, “We’re in danger now of going into a World Cup where you have got Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Harry Kane, Vini Jr., all trying to get the Golden Boot.” He urged Tuchel to learn from past experiences, emphasizing the importance of rest in maintaining player fitness.
The match saw England initially challenged by a resolute Panama side, which sought to threaten on counter-attacks. It was Bellingham who finally broke the deadlock in the second half, flicking the ball into the net from a corner before assisting Kane five minutes later.
As a result of the win, England advances as Group L winners and will face DR Congo in the Round of 32. Tuchel acknowledged the match as a demanding test, insisting that England achieved what was necessary against a physically challenging opponent.
“We did what was needed,” he stated. “It was what we expected – a tough match against a physical opponent. It was difficult to score – we were the only team to create this amount of chances and scored twice against them.” He also expressed confidence that his side will improve as they enter the knockout stage, highlighting the need for precision in approach and attention to detail.
With the tournament now transitioning to its knockout phase, the dynamics of squad management and player readiness will only intensify. How Tuchel navigates these challenges, particularly with a player of Kane’s caliber, will be pivotal as England aims to progress further.
