BBC pundits draw 24m viewers as they back Tuchel to stay as England boss
Former England players Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Micah Richards have captivated a massive World Cup audience while publicly backing under-fire manager Thomas Tuchel to keep his job.
Wayne Rooney has fulfilled a pledge to row a river after Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals, taking to New York’s Hudson River alongside fellow BBC pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards. The stunt followed Erling Haaland’s teasing remark to Rooney: "I’m looking forward to seeing you, Wayney boy." The trio will now cover Sunday's World Cup final live from the United States.
Their river crossing was a light-hearted moment in a tournament that has demonstrated the massive cultural pull of European football broadcasting. The BBC's coverage, fronted by the former players, has drawn audiences of up to 24 million. This highlights how star athletes are successfully transitioning into high-profile media roles that shape public discourse across the continent.
The three former internationals, who first met over two decades ago, said their on-air chemistry stems from shared experience. "We’re just honest, you know, the same on air as off," Richards said. Hart noted that their analysis aims to defend players from lazy criticism by explaining the tactical realities of facing elite opposition at the World Cup.
That analytical approach has led to a direct critique of England manager Thomas Tuchel following the team's 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. Rooney argued that Tuchel made a critical error by adopting a defensive posture late in the match. "It was there for us to win with 15, 20 minutes to go," Rooney said. "He made a big mistake in not allowing us the opportunity to get more pressure on the ball and surrender possession."
Despite this sharp criticism, the pundits agreed that the German coach should remain in charge of the national team. Hart suggested Tuchel may have simply been caught up in the emotion of the occasion, while Richards acknowledged Argentina were ultimately the better team. Rooney pointed to the lack of obvious alternatives, asking: "If Tuchel gets sacked who are we going to bring in? Tuchel will learn from his mistakes so I would keep him."
England will now face France in Saturday's bronze-medal match, a game that poses a distinct motivational challenge for the squad. Hart noted that players chasing individual accolades, such as Harry Kane's pursuit of the Golden Boot, will provide necessary drive. However, he stressed that Tuchel must still prove his ability to rally the team for a fixture that carries little tangible reward.
