Wayne Rooney tells Jude Bellingham to not do anything ‘stupid’ before England’s tough knockout draw in Euros

Wayne Rooney warned Jude Bellingham to stay calm and avoid rash decisions due to frustration.

Wayne Rooney tells Jude Bellingham to not do anything ‘stupid’ before England’s tough knockout draw in Euros

Wayne Rooney warned Jude Bellingham from doing anything 'stupid'. (via IMAGO)

Former England legend Wayne Rooney cautioned midfielder Jude Bellingham from doing anything ‘stupid’ before the team’s tough Round of 16 match. The ex-Red Devils star fears a ‘frustrated’ Bellingham might get sent off against Slovakia.

The La Liga player of the year, Bellingham has been left increasingly frustrated after two back-to-back draws for England, against Denmark and Slovenia. Gareth Southgate‘s side ultimately finished the group stage with just five points out of a possible nine. Moreover, the 21-year-old midfielder’s performance declined in the last two matches after scoring the winner in the first game. Wayne Rooney, understanding the pressure on the young player, offered generous advice.

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The ex-England skipper faced a similar situation at the 2006 World Cup when he was sent off for losing his temper against Portugal. Rooney expressed concern about Bellingham’s body language during the Euros. Writing in The Times, the Plymouth manager worriedly exclaimed that Jude’s frustration could lead to a red card or injury, thus urging him to stay calm and focus on his game. He emphasized his belief in the 21-year-old’s talent, which he said would become more evident with experience.

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Three or four times in the first half (against Slovenia) he could not hide his frustration. I just hope the frustration doesn't boil over to the point where he gets a red card or does something stupid and gets himself injured. 
Wayne Rooney on Jude Bellingham (via The Times)

Moreover, Rooney opined that star players like Phil Foden, Harry Kane and Bellingham feel pressure to carry the team individually. Hence, he urged the team to address this issue and function as a unit, highlighting that England has the potential to win the Euros if they do so.

Wayne Rooney backs Liverpool’s Joe Gomez as an answer to England’s left-back woes

Former England skipper Wayne Rooney backed Liverpool defender Joe Gomez as the obvious solution to the national team’s left-back worries at the Euros. The 27-year-old is yet to start a single match for the Three Lions, who have qualified for the knockout stage.

Wayne Rooney backs Joe Gomez
Wayne Rooney backs Joe Gomez to start as England’s left-back. (via IMAGO)

Manager Gareth Southgate has been facing a number of selection issues, including the absence of his first choice left-back, Luke Shaw. As a result of it, the manager has been forced to start right-back Kieran Trippier at that position. However, Rooney views Gomez as a reliable option for the position. The 27-year-old has frequently played on both sides of the defense for Liverpool. 

At the minute, it's (Kieran) Trippier or (Joe) Gomez, for me, who should play there (left-back).
Wayne Rooney’s advice to Gareth Southgate (via BBC)

Additionally, the Plymouth manager expressed surprise that England’s manager did not choose Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, who could have served as a backup for the injured Shaw.

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