Rooney: The FA should continue to support Tuchel unless Guardiola can take over.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney said the Football Association should continue to support Thomas Tuchel as manager of the Three Lions unless the team can successfully invite Pep Guardiola to take over.

England lost 1-2 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, failing to reach the final. Despite criticism of Tuchel's late substitutions, the FA still supports the German manager's continued leadership, and Tuchel himself has expressed his desire to lead England in the 2028 European Championship.

Rooney believes there is no need to change managers unless Guardiola is willing to take over as England manager.

“I don’t see any other suitable candidates right now, unless you go after Guardiola. If Pep has the opportunity to join, then perhaps you should try to invite him,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“I think he (Tuchel) is a top coach. The characteristic of a top coach is that he can learn from his mistakes and keep improving himself.”

“If we fire him, who will we replace him with? I don’t think anyone is more suitable than Thomas Tuchel right now, except for Guardiola.”

However, Rooney also pointed out that Tuchel's lack of World Cup experience may have been a factor in England's defeat.

"For me, the biggest problem is that he has no World Cup experience. We encountered a similar situation with Capello before."

"The World Cup is a completely different event; you have to experience that environment, and he has already gone through that."

Tuchel took over the England national team in January 2025, when the FA hoped he could help the team win the World Cup in the short term. In February of this year, the two sides signed a two-year extension to his contract, extending his term until the summer of 2028.

It's worth mentioning that the FA had tried to invite Guardiola before appointing Tuchel, and it was reported that the two sides even reached a verbal agreement at one point, but Guardiola ultimately chose to continue managing Manchester City.

Rooney also questioned the FA's decision to extend Tuchel's contract early.

“I think the FA told us that Tuchel’s task was to win the World Cup and lead the team to a new level. If the goal was really to win the World Cup, then it’s a bit strange to give him a two-year contract before the World Cup even starts.”