England are through. Wayne Rooney is not convinced. Despite a Round of 32 victory over DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup — the exact scoreline still to be confirmed at time of writing — the England legend turned pundit has gone public with what he's calling 'big concerns' about the team. He's named Noni Madueke as a focal point of his worry, warning that England will go out if things don't change.
England got the result. Rooney watched it and came away unsatisfied — which, for a man who scored 53 goals for his country, is worth paying attention to. According to Football365, the former captain has flagged serious reservations about England's performance against DR Congo, suggesting the manner of the victory tells a different story to the scoreline. Reports from Sky Sports have echoed the broad sentiment that England's display left room for concern despite the positive outcome.
The specific nature of his concerns hasn't been fully detailed, but the message is clear enough: progress in the bracket is one thing, the level required to go deep in a World Cup is another — and Rooney doesn't think England are there yet.
Noni Madueke is the player Rooney has chosen to single out, per Football365. That's a significant namecheck. Madueke — reported to be joining Arsenal, though that move is yet to be officially confirmed at time of writing — has been one of the stories of the Premier League season after his time at Chelsea, and his inclusion in the England setup reflects how quickly his stock has risen. But Rooney's public flag suggests the step up to World Cup football is asking different questions.
It's the kind of criticism that lands harder when it comes from someone who played in four World Cups. Rooney isn't a pundit who shouts for attention. When he raises an eyebrow, people tend to look.
The bluntest part of Rooney's verdict — that England will go out — is the line that will follow the team into their next fixture. Wins paper over cracks for a while, but a public warning from a national icon, issued the same day as a victory, is the kind of noise that builds in a tournament environment.
England's camp will know the noise. Whether they answer it on the pitch is the only thing that matters now.
England are through. Wayne Rooney is not convinced. Despite a Round of 32 victory over DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup — the exact scoreline still to be confirmed at time of writing
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Football365
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