Topics: Wayne Rooney, England, Gareth Southgate
Wayne Rooney has criticised a decision made by England boss Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2024.
England lost their final pre-Euros friendly 1-0 to Iceland on Friday at Wembley, with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scoring the only goal of the game.
The Three Lions kick off their campaign against Group C in Serbia on Sunday but Rooney made an observation that he feels doesn't reflect too well on Southgate.
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The England boss made a number of bold decisions in selecting his 26-man squad, cutting seven players from his initial 33-man group.
One of the lesser controversial calls was Liverpool's Jarell Quansah being omitted after earning his first call-up and failing to take to the pitch against Bosnia or Iceland.
The second fixture came after the Euro 2024 squad deadline but the centre-back remained with the squad despite being left out.
Yet according to Rooney, Quansah headed down the tunnel when the rest of the players did a lap around the pitch after the game.
And it didn't sit right with the former England skipper, who felt Southgate should have sent him home earlier.
“That’s why I think Gareth should have sent them all home [after telling them they won’t be picked]," Rooney said on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.
“He kept Quansah there and I watched him after the game, I was on the side of the pitch doing TV, and I watched every player walk around the pitch after the game. As soon as the final whistle went Quansah goes in.
“Straight away you have a split. He has probably seen nobody got injured, and I felt for him, as he was probably in having a shower and leaving and he was the only one there.
“I think Gareth should have said go home, if there is an injury be ready, and give them that 24 or 48 hours, if anyone gets injured I’ll call you, otherwise go on your holidays.”
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