Kyle Walker has reiterated his stance over his England retirement despite a right-back headache for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup 2026.
After Reece James’ injury, Tuchel has been forced to scramble for options, with Tino Livramento dropping out of the squad before the tournament with injury and centre-back Trevoh Chalobah preferred to Trent Alexander-Arnold as a replacement.
After Djed Spence struggled in the win over DR Congo, Declan Rice filled in at right-back, while Ezri Konsa also featured in stoppage time, meaning, alongside Jarell Quansah, England have now featured five separate right-backs in the tournament.
And BBC Sport pundit Wayne Rooney suggested that Walker, a veteran of 96 caps before retiring in March this year, should have been called up following Livramento’s injury.
"We've seen it before. It's happened before where players come out of retirement,” Rooney said during his analysis of the game. "I think the minute Livramento got injured, I think he should have been right on the phone to Kyle Walker. "Kyle is still more than good enough and more than capable of playing in this England team.
"I would have been on the phone to him saying, 'Listen we need you here. Can you come out and help us?’ That could really cost us [the right-back area]. I'm worried on that.”
Reacting to Rooney’s comments, Walker mentioned that the former England and Man United striker was a good friend and that his suggestion was “flattering”.
He told The Sun: “I would always have tried to be there for my country. But my time is up, I retired for a reason. I thought that it was time for the pathway for the next generation to come through and step aside for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.
“And it’s just sod’s law that a lot of right-backs have now been injured.
“I don’t regret anything in life. I made the decision and I stand by it. Could I foresee Reece James and Tino both getting injured?
“Maybe with their problems I could have given myself a little bit of a chance but I also think that you’ve got a very good right-back in Trent who’s also been overlooked.”
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