Wayne Rooney has criticized England’s senior players for not taking responsibility after their poor performance against Slovenia. The team’s fans were frustrated with the lackluster showing in Cologne and the less than impressive performances in previous games. Rooney pointed out that some senior players did not fulfill their media duties in the immediate aftermath of the game and left it to younger players like Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer to face the criticism.

Rooney also mentioned that Jude Bellingham, who is part of the leadership group, should step up and take responsibility as he has been a senior international since 2020. In response to the situation, Kyle Walker appeared on England’s official Lions’ Den YouTube channel, urging for calm before their last-16 showdown with Slovakia. He emphasized the need for the team to up their performance but also advised against making drastic changes and instead focusing on representing their country and winning the football game.

Walker also emphasized the team’s experience in knockout scenarios.