Wayne Rooney warns England stars to be ‘really careful’ as he reveals his biggest fear for Gareth Southgate’s side during their time in Germany at Euro 2024
- England is preparing for the European Championship match against Denmark on Thursday
- Gareth Southgate’s team can qualify for the knockouts with a win
- Listen to It all starts! Why leaving out Phil Foden would be an extreme knee-jerk reaction
Wayne Rooney is concerned that England’s stars could get themselves into trouble by taking part in streams with popular gamers while away with the Three Lions at the 2024 European Championship.
Joined by his former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville, Rooney discussed the problems that could plague Gareth Southgate’s men in Germany.
The former striker has been no stranger to online gaming in recent months after being announced as a star signing for EA Sports FC Pro Club Girth N Turf – founded by YouTubers Angry Ginge and Yung Filly – in April.
Rooney raised the dangers of the England players taking part in the activity during the European Championship and warned the stars to be ‘very careful’.
“It’s the flow I’ve seen,” he said on the radio Overlap’s fan debate special. ‘[Jordan]Pickford and [Aaron] Ramsdale was busy with some of these streamers last week.
Wayne Rooney is concerned that England’s stars could find themselves in hot water if they are not ‘really careful’ with live streams
‘One wrong word while you’re in that camp with England. They have to be very careful.
“I did it with a few lads a few weeks ago, was just messing around and having fun, but then they’re away with England and they start doing that and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.”
The new Plymouth Argyle manager caused a stir during an appearance on stream after sending his teammates into fits of laughter. He responded quickly after a foul-mouthed comment was read out from the chat.
“For some reason I apparently just get called ‘you’re a fat granny ******’, cheers buddy,” said Angry Ginge – real name Morgan Burtwistle. ‘Someone is clearly not very happy that Real Madrid won.’
Rooney was quick to respond, with the 38-year-old making the deadpan comment: “I don’t think this was aimed at you.”
The Red Devils’ all-time top scorer also left fans stunned during a stream in April when he revealed his bizarre nighttime routine: falling asleep with a hairdryer on.
Neville also raised concerns about camp life during an international tournament, claiming cards were the main problem for ‘bored’ players during his career.
The former right-back is hopeful that today’s forms of entertainment will not have a similarly ‘devastating’ impact on the group.
“We have to remember that they are young,” he said. ‘They are active, they quickly get bored in a hotel for a month and cannot leave the premises because you have security everywhere.
‘The card school was still in my day and I thought it had a devastating impact on morale and mentality.
“The boys were playing all the time. Then you’re talking about FIFA, the new collective, and that’s only because they’re bored.
Gary Neville (right) claimed that the problem players faced during his career was cards
Neville said it is very easy for players to get bored when they are in England for long periods of time
The team is based in the remote Spa & Golf Resort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain
‘I’m sure Gareth will get over it, but there has to be some control over it because these things can have a big impact.’
England can qualify for the knockout stages on Thursday by winning the second group match against Denmark. Southgate faces a number of selection issues; whether we should continue to monitor Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and how we can get the best out of Phil Foden.