Rooney Delivers Brutal Verdict on Grealish's England Hopes
Former England captain Wayne Rooney has delivered a stark assessment of Jack Grealish's international future, bluntly stating the attacker should "book his holiday for the summer now" as he sees no route into the 2026 World Cup squad. This verdict comes despite Grealish's impressive form on a season-long loan at Everton from Manchester City.
A Crowded Attack Leaves No Room
England secured their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday, 14th November 2025, showcasing their depth in attacking areas. Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze scored the goals, underlining the intense competition for places under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Rooney emphasised this point on The Wayne Rooney Show, noting that even an injury to Anthony Gordon did not open the door for a Grealish recall. "You think Anthony Gordon dropped out and he still doesn't get called into it, so I think Thomas Tuchel is quite set," Rooney stated.
Tuchel's Preferences Become Clear
The evidence supporting Rooney's claim is substantial. In the match against Serbia, the attacking starters were Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Bukayo Saka behind striker Harry Kane. The substitutes brought on were Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Eberechi Eze, with Jarrod Bowen remaining an unused substitute.
The queue for attacking roles appears long, with Cole Palmer expected to be ahead of Grealish upon his return from injury, and Noni Madueke also receiving more recent call-ups.
When asked about Grealish's omission from the latest squad, Everton manager David Moyes remained pragmatic. "Thomas Tuchel picks his England team and he has to decide what he wants. At the moment, Jack is doing really, really well for us," Moyes commented after his team's victory over Fulham.
Looking Ahead to the World Cup
England, who had already qualified for the World Cup before the Serbia game, now aim to finish their qualifying campaign with a perfect record of eight wins and zero goals conceded. Manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his satisfaction with his offensive options, specifically praising Phil Foden's impact and confidence after he provided the assist for Eze's goal.
For Jack Grealish, a veteran of the Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup squads who narrowly missed Euro 2024, the path back to the international stage under Tuchel seems increasingly blocked, regardless of his club performances.
