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Wayne Rooney believes Thomas Tuchel may regret not calling up Kyle Walker amid England’s right back crisis at the World Cup.
Tuchel was dealt a significant blow pre-tournament when Newcastle star Tino Livramento was forced to withdraw from the squad through injury.
Tottenham’s Djed Spence started on the right side of defence for the 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday, in the absence of the injured Reece James and Jarell Quansah.
Spence was harangued by Tuchel throughout the match and was eventually taken off, with Declan Rice replacing the struggling Spurs defender.
And Rooney thinks Walker, who retired from international football in March after earning 96 caps, would solve the issue for the Three Lions head coach.
‘The minute Tino Livramento got injured, Thomas Tuchel should have been on the phone to Kyle Walker,’ Rooney said on the BBC.
Wayne Rooney believes Thomas Tuchel should have called up Kyle Walker to the England squad
‘Walker is still more than good enough and more than capable to play in this England team.
‘That could really cost us.’
England were stunned in their knockout clash with DR Congo as Brian Cipenga put the African side in front after just seven minutes.
Tuchel’s men were unable to stamp their authority on the game before Harry Kane came to the rescue, equalising with a header before rifling home a superb strike four minutes from time to send England through to the last 16.
‘For me there are big concerns,’ Rooney added. ‘We are all delighted England have gone through but in particular when England lose the ball they are so open.
‘Against a better team I think we are in big trouble if we don’t sort that out.
‘The connection isn’t great between the backline and midfield, the full-backs are struggling, [Noni] Madueke struggled.
Rooney also delivered a scathing verdict on England after they scraped past DR Congo
‘There are just no connections and big gaps in the middle of the pitch and that is a big worry for me.
‘He [Tuchel] really needs to look at that otherwise we will go out.’
England now face the daunting task of Mexico in the Azteca in the last 16 on Sunday. The co-hosts have won all four of their matches so far and have a formidable record at their famous home, losing just two of 89 competitive games.
The winner of the tie, which kicks-off in the early hours of Monday morning in the UK, will face either Brazil or Norway in the quarter-finals.
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