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The euphoria of England playing at another international tournament took only two matches to dissipate.

The Three Lions came into Euro 2024 as one of the favourites and have barely looked the part.

Many reasons have been given – players tired after a long season, injuries to key players, moving on from old reliable players, Southgate playing with the handbrake on and more.

It has led to a general feeling of disappointment around the team.

However, all is not lost.

England’s topping their group, and results in other groups meant that England play Slovakia in the Round of 16, on the easier half of the draw.  This means that England cannot play the likes of hosts Germany, France, Spain or  Portugal until the final on July 14.

Wayne Rooney talks about England

Pundits on TV, radio and the press have all been racking their brains to solve England’s balance issues.

The team suffers on the left due to not having a specialist left back.

Luke Shaw does not seem to have recovered fitness in time while Kieran Trippier has struggled manfully out of position, at left back but his first instinct is to drift inwards?

Combine this with Phil Foden who also wants to come in and England’s left side can sometimes be almost nonexistent.

Since the Denmark and Slovenia games, many pundits have suggested solutions for this lack of balance.

Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United, Everton and England star is one of them.

The new Plymouth Argyle manager has been giving his opinion about the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament.

Speaking on the BBCs Radio 5 Football Daily Podcast, Rooney lamented the lack of balance in the team.

The former England record goalscorer said “I was very surprised and really shocked that Ben Chilwell didn’t get picked.

“Just for the balance of having a left-footed player there…there’s so many imbalances about the team.

“So do you play Trippier or Gomez there.

There’s so many imbalances about the team.

“Should Foden play on the left, on the right, or as a No?

There are so many questions.”

Which Liverpool player did Rooney suggest as a solution?

Over the course of the podcast, Rooney suggested Joe Gomez as a potential answer to the left back question.

“At the minute, it’s Tripper or [Joe] Gomez, for me, who should play there,” he said.

With Trippier supposedly nursing a sore calf according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law, perhaps Joe, who certainly didn’t embarrass himself in the left-back role last season, might get a chance.

Gomez played in a variety of positions at Liverpool last season, including 14 starts at left back and had 1 assist as he proved to be a useful utility man at the back for Jurgen Klopp.

England play Slovakia in the UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 tomorrow at 5pm UK time in the Veltins-Arena Stadium.

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