Wayne Rooney has broken down the standout detail separating England’s notorious ‘Golden Generation’ and the Three Lions’ World Cup side under Thomas Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel is currently preparing for England’s massive World Cup encounter with defending champions Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday evening.
England overcame co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16 in a stunning 3-2 win before beating Norway 2-1 in extra time in the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup.
Tuchel now has the opportunity to lead England to their first World Cup final since the Three Lions’ famed triumph in the 1966 tournament at Wembley.
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Wayne Rooney on what he thinks Thomas Tuchel has done right with England after the Golden Generation’s failure
Wayne Rooney was one of the high-profile names in the star-studded roster of England players that made up the Three Lions’ ‘Golden Generation’ in the 2000s.
The Golden Generation featured the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Sir David Beckham, but the Three Lions failed to break England’s longstanding silverware drought.
Rooney, who was once England’s all-time leading scorer, was asked if he felt the Three Lions had a more ‘improved culture and togetherness’ now than in the past.
“This current England team looks really good,” he said in a Reddit AMA.
“I think Thomas Tuchel has been quite open on that in terms of the squad he’s picked; he wants the players to be together.
“That only comes when you’re playing well and winning games, so I suppose the results will tell us the answer to that.”
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Wayne Rooney addresses a longstanding debate around the dynamic of England’s ‘Golden Generation’
The so-called Golden Generation were accused of having ‘tension’ among one another because of the fierce rivalry involving England players at club level.
However, ex-Manchester United captain Rooney has now insisted that he did not feel a sense of “tension” among the England camp during the Golden Generation’s run.
“Well, I’ve spoken about this a few times and… I didn’t feel any tension at all, and I’ve seen some of the players who I played with, obviously, from that time come out and say there was, but I think it was maybe a little bit before my time, so I didn’t feel that tension,” Rooney explained.
“Every time I went away with England, everyone seemed to get on. So, whether I was just being blinded by it, I don’t know, but I didn’t feel that tension and the scaredness.”
England will now meet Argentina in the World Cup at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, with kick-off slated for 8pm UK time.
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