- Gary Neville asked Wayne Rooney to name his starting XI at The Overlap
- Rooney admits some of his defensive selections are causing him concern
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Wayne Rooney has selected the England XI with which he would play the opening match of Euro 2024 on Sunday if he was in charge of the Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate’s men start their campaign on Sunday evening when they take on Serbia at the Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena) in Gelsenkirchen.
Rooney, who played for England in three European Championships, was asked by Gary Neville The overlap to name his favorite starting lineup.
Only a few positions in the team are causing serious debate and Rooney agreed that Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane should all start in their usual positions.
One of the big questions heading into the Euros is who will play on the left of central defense following Harry Maguire’s injury.
Gary Neville (R) asked Wayne Rooney to select his starting XI for Sunday’s match against Serbia
“I don’t know,” Rooney said. “I think I would play against Marc Guehi just for form in the competition, but I would be worried.”
Rooney accepted that Kieran Tripper will have to start until Luke Shaw is fit.
“It’s (a guarantee that he will start). ‘For me he has been very bad all season. I thought the other day against Iceland he was bad again, but he will play, he has to play.’
Rooney wants Rice at the bottom of midfield, with Bellignham just ahead of him, giving Phil Foden a freer role in the number 10 position.
Many believe Foden will be played on the left this summer, but Rooney would prefer to see Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon there.
Rooney’s team consisted of Marc Guehi in central defense and Anthony Gordon on the left wing
England legend says he would start Guehi (R) and Kieran Tripper (L), but they worry him
“He’s different,” he said. ‘He runs off the ball, gets in the back, takes players, holds the width. All other options, like coming in.”
However, Rooney believes Southgate will go in a different direction, with Foden on the left and Trent Alexander-Arnold or Conor Gallagher in midfield.
England will take on Denmark in the second match of Group C on June 20, before taking on Slovenia on June 25.