Former Manchester United forward, Wayne Rooney has pleaded with England boss, Thomas Tuchel to consider resting Harry Kane ‘when possible’ to prevent the England captain from becoming fatigued in the later stages of the World Cup.
The Three Lions secured first place in Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night, with Jude Bellingham scoring the first goal in the second half, followed by Kane sealing the victory with a header in the 67th minute.
This goal made the Bayern Munich striker England’s all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup, achieving a total of 11 goals and surpassing Gary Lineker.
The 32-year-old was substituted with six minutes remaining in the match, and England legend Rooney emphasized that he should have been taken off immediately after scoring.
Kane has been a consistent presence in the England squad for nearly a decade, but the former Manchester United star expressed concerns about potential fatigue affecting him later in the tournament.
“In past tournaments, Harry Kane has appeared somewhat fatigued towards the end,” Rooney stated on BBC One.
“He was substituted in the 84th minute, right after he scored, and with England leading 2-0, the match was effectively over, so he should have been taken off.
“Even with 20 minutes left, that is when fatigue sets in, and it can take a toll on you.
“We are in danger now of entering a World Cup where players like Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Vini Jr are all vying for the Golden Boot.
“We witnessed Southgate’s reluctance to substitute Kane; I hope Tuchel takes note and allows him to rest when the opportunity arises.”
England is set to face DR Congo in their round of 32 match, scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta.