Wayne Rooney: 'Tuchel could help England surpass expectations at the World Cup'

English football legend Wayne Rooney believes that the experience and resilience of coach Thomas Tuchel could be the decisive factor enabling England to advance far in the World Cup, following several disappointing missed opportunities under Gareth Southgate.

In recent years, England has consistently progressed deep into major tournaments but lacked a bit of resilience to grasp the title. They twice failed in the EURO final and reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, showing clear progress yet still unable to cross the "threshold of victory."

The appointment of Tuchel – who won the Champions League with Chelsea and achieved domestic trebles with Paris Saint-Germain – initially surprised Rooney, as he thought a domestic coach might be more suitable. However, the former England captain later changed his view, acknowledging Tuchel's track record as a major advantage if the team reaches the knockout stage.

Rooney emphasized that Tuchel's greatest distinction is "the mindset of a champion." According to him, at crucial moments, the experience of conquering major titles will play a vital role, helping the team overcome pressure and achieve its goals.

Additionally, Rooney also highly values Tuchel's method of selecting the lineup based on performance rather than reputation. He cited the case of Morgan Rogers – an Aston Villa player – who is currently being prioritized over even big stars like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, or Cole Palmer.

"It's refreshing to see a coach giving opportunities based on actual performance. That creates healthy competition within the squad," Rooney remarked.

The former Manchester United striker also expects England to at least reach the World Cup semifinals. According to him, if this milestone is achieved, anything can happen, especially since the current squad possesses many players who have competed in major tournaments, combined with Tuchel's coaching experience.

Rooney's belief reflects the high expectations placed on England in the upcoming journey, where they not only seek achievements but also aim to break the "runner-up curse" that has haunted them for many years.