Wayne Rooney has blamed England’s Euro 2016 humiliation on Roy Hodgson’s unsuccessful selection gamble.
Hodgson made six changes for England’s final group match against Slovakia and the subsequent goalless draw cost England first place in their group.
England captain Rooney was one of those rested by Hodgson and the Manchester United forward says the loss of momentum caused by Hodgson’s decision was instrumental in the team’s stunning last 16 defeat against minnows Iceland.
“I wouldn’t have rested six players. It’s more than half the team. It was a gamble and it didn’t pay off,” Rooney told the Daily Mail on Monday.
“We had lost momentum from the Slovakia game and tournament football is about confidence. You get that from winning.
“We didn’t play great in the friendlies, but we won. So you try to build, even from before the tournament, but we couldn’t get that consistency once it began.
“It was Roy’s decision to make changes against Slovakia and either way, the team he put out should have been able to win. But, right or wrong, I wanted to play and I can’t deny that.”
