Wayne Rooney named four current England players in his combined lineup (Picture: Getty)
Wayne Rooney has named the four current England players who he thinks would have got into the ‘Golden Generation’ lineup of the 2000s.
Rooney was a key part of England’s hugely talented side of the early 200s alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen.
However, despite their promise, the team failed to fulfil on their potential, losing excruciatingly in the quarter-finals at both Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.
In contrast, the current England squad have come far closer to ending the Three Lions’ major championship drought, falling just short on penalties in the last edition of the Euros in 2021.
Comparing the two squads, former Manchester United striker Rooney earmarked four current players who would get into the Golden Generation side.
‘For me, none of the [current] defenders would [get into the Golden Generation team],’ he said on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate.
‘If you look back, you had Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Sol Campbell, Ledley King, [Jamie] Carragher, Gaz [Gary Neville], Ashley Cole.
Rooney named Harry Kane as England’s greatest-ever player (Picture: Getty)
‘In the attacking areas that’s where a few would get in. Harry Kane 100 per cent would be in, [Phil] Foden would be in, [Jude] Bellingham – for me, Harry Kane’s England’s best-ever player.’
Rooney also suggested that Everton keeper Jordan Pickford would get the nod over David James and Paul Robinson in goal.
Gary Neville, meanwhile, conceded that his position in the team would come under threat from current Manchester City captain Kyle Walker and also said Declan Rice could come in to provide a more balanced midfield.
Rooney said Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden would get into the team (Picture: Getty)
‘’Our problem position was actually [the] left side – that’s where Paul Scholes ended up, so there’s no doubt that one of the [current England] players would end up on our left side,’ he said.
‘The balance of our midfield obviously with [Frank] Lampard and [Steven] Gerrard, you’d have to think that Declan Rice would come into that
‘Michael Owen was a great player, but Kane would start up top with [Wayne Rooney]. You could definitely put Kyle [Walker] at right back in front of me and legitimately say that he would be better than me there.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.