WAYNE ROONEY has blasted England supporters who booed the team off at Wembley following the goalless draw with Scotland.
The Three Lions won their opening Euro 2020 clash against Croatia last Sunday but failed to sparkle as they were held to a frustrating stalemate against the Auld Enemy on Friday.
Scotland came close to a winner when Stephen O’Donnell was denied by a stunning Jordan Pickford save while John Stones smashed a header off the post for England.
With four points from two matches, England’s place in the last-16 looks likely, but that failed to stop home fans in attendance jeering at the final whistle two days ago.
Now England and Manchester United’s record goalscorer, who famously let rip at supporters booing the team at the 2010 World Cup, has called for the jeers to be turned into cheers.
Rooney wrote in a column for The Times: “I was at Wembley with my two oldest lads to watch England draw with Scotland and at full time stood and clapped the players off.
“Around us there were fans booing the team.
“It reminded me of my time playing for England, when we were jeered on more than one occasion – and I can tell you it never helped any individual play better, nor helped the team.
“I think we, as a country and England supporters, have to get behind our players.
“Gareth Southgate and his players did not deserve to be booed on Friday.
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“I know, 100 per cent, that they are giving everything to help England do well.
“Those players are young lads and I know, first hand, how hard it is wearing that England shirt and walking off to boos.”
Rooney, 35, added: “Be patient with them. There is plenty of quality in that squad and there is still a good opportunity for England to do something at Euro 2020, so why make their task more difficult?
“Booing will not make anyone play better. Overreactions are not what we need.
“Patience. Let’s get behind this team and stay behind them. There is a lot of pressure playing for England. There is no need to boo.”
England can overtake Czech Republic to win Group D in their final group game on Tuesday with a victory.
Rooney wants Southgate to make changes but insists Harry Kane should start.
The Derby County manager wants the star to play in a deeper role and reckons playing for Manchester City for so long hampers Phil Foden when he plays for England.
Rooney said: “It is important Gareth gets the selection right and gives the lads freedom to play, asking them to speed up and, at times, be more direct.
“There are certainly changes I hope Gareth makes for Tuesday’s game against the Czech Republic.”
“As I have been saying since the build-up to the tournament, Jack Grealish has to start.
“One thing we have seen, watching him and Raheem Sterling in the two opening games, is how differently England and Manchester City play, and how difficult that makes it for Phil Foden especially to adapt.
“City play in the final third. They keep possession there.
“And Foden is not a dribbler but a player who plays nice little passes and moves into good positions. At City, the movement of players around him enables it.
“City will play quick five-yard passes before a little movement — not a big one — will free Foden up and he has licence to go into the spaces and play as a No 9, at times, or No 10 at others.
“Whereas with England he is a bit isolated out wide and when he receives the ball, the possession is slow and there is little happening around him.
“That means he then has to dribble — and if you are playing in such a way that, from your wide players, dribbling is what is required then why not play Grealish and Jadon Sancho, two of the best at doing it.
“I was saying before the tournament that we have to calm down on the Foden hype because even though he is an unbelievable talent, you cannot expect young players to come and tear tournaments up.
“I love Foden as a footballer but you have to realise that, for four years and more, he has been moulded into a City player.
“Pep Guardiola did not let him go on loan, or experience a different style of football — his whole adult career has been spent playing the Guardiola/City way.
“It is hard for him to turn up and just change how he has been playing since the age of 16.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
