Wayne Rooney has criticised England's dressing room celebrations after their World Cup victory over Mexico, suggesting the squad are getting ahead of themselves following their dramatic 3-2 win in the last 16.
Rooney's Old-School View
Speaking as a pundit for the BBC after the match, the England and Manchester United legend said: "I'm a bit more old school. After you win anything… I know you've got to enjoy it but I think it's a bit too soon." The comments came after footage emerged of players partying in the dressing room, dancing and singing Oasis' 'Wonderwall' with fans on the pitch.
Dressing Room Antics
The BBC played a clip of the celebrations following its coverage of Portugal vs Spain, showing defender John Stones tricking head coach Thomas Tuchel into thinking he was injured before breaking into a dance routine. The 3-2 win at the Azteca Stadium saw Jude Bellingham score a quickfire brace and Harry Kane net a penalty, with Mexican goals from Julián Quiñones and Raul Jimenez.
Azpilicueta Disagrees
Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta, also a pundit for the game, disagreed with Rooney's assessment. "As a player, when you have had these kinds of games against a host, this atmosphere, you have to enjoy it," he said. "Life is about balance, football is about balance, you have to enjoy it. Now they will recover and be ready for another game."
Henderson Injury Blow
England's victory was marred by an injury to midfielder Jordan Henderson, who broke his wrist after falling over an advertising hoarding during post-match celebrations. The 36-year-old Brentford player will miss the rest of the World Cup after doctors confirmed he needs surgery to repair a broken radius in his left arm. He had played just six minutes at the tournament, coming off the bench against Panama.
Quarter-Final Clash
England will now face Norway in the quarter-finals, with the match scheduled for Saturday, July 11 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (KO: 10pm BST). The Three Lions will look to build on what has been hailed as one of their best performances in history, but Rooney's warning serves as a reminder of the challenges ahead.
