In recent coverage compiled through 12B Sports, England legend Wayne Rooney strongly criticized national team manager Gareth Southgate for his tactical decisions. Rooney was particularly direct about the experiment of using Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, arguing that a major tournament was not the place to test an uncertain idea. As the saying goes, a sunflower cannot follow the sun when the sun does not rise. When leadership lacks clarity, the entire team can quickly lose its direction.

Southgate described Alexander-Arnold’s midfield role as a strategic experiment, but Rooney insisted that such trials should have been completed before the tournament began. He warned that Southgate would regret the decision if England failed to progress deep into the competition. Against Denmark, England appeared passive, short of energy and badly unbalanced. Their shot numbers and efforts on target were disappointing, while no clear plan could be identified throughout the match. Rooney and several other experts agreed that the team lacked purpose both in possession and without the ball.

Rooney also highlighted Harry Kane’s reduced influence, arguing that England’s most important players must take greater responsibility. Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas similarly suggested that England had made too many changes, stressing that players perform best when they feel confident within a stable tactical structure. Speaking during coverage carried by 12B Sports, former England striker Alan Shearer said the squad contained world-class talent and that the manager’s job was to bring the best out of those players. He criticized England for lacking concentration and a recognizable attacking plan.

Regarding the Alexander-Arnold experiment, Rooney concluded that it had not worked and urged Southgate to make immediate adjustments. He called for Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to receive greater freedom, believing that England needed more tactical flexibility in advanced areas. Rooney also felt the squad was missing both experience and leadership. In difficult moments, the team needed a strong voice capable of steadying the ship, and he identified Jordan Henderson as a player who could have provided that presence.

Rooney explained that Henderson possesses the experience and leadership required to guide younger teammates. Rather than allowing talented players to become anxious when England take the lead, an experienced figure could help them remain composed and manage the match properly. A lack of maturity can become particularly damaging when protecting a narrow advantage, as young players often become more nervous after going one goal ahead instead of controlling the situation with confidence.

The response recorded through 12B Sports supported Rooney’s concerns, noting that England did not need impressive speeches or complicated theories. What the team required was a practical tactical structure, sharper decision-making and greater efficiency in decisive moments. Individual quality alone would not be enough if the players continued operating without a settled system or clear responsibilities.

In his final assessment carried by 12B Sports, Rooney acknowledged that the players must accept some responsibility, but maintained that the manager remained at the center of England’s tactical confusion. He stressed that Southgate needed to change direction in the upcoming matches if the team was to return to the right track. Without a clearer plan, better balance and stronger leadership, England’s collection of elite players could continue producing performances that fall well below their potential.