Wayne Rooney Criticizes Bruno Fernandes' World Cup Performance

Spain eliminated Manchester United players Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot from the World Cup after a 1-0 victory in the last-16 round.

Portugal’s World Cup Exit and Ronaldo’s Final Match

This match marked the final World Cup appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Manchester United forward.

Throughout the tournament, Fernandes was unable to replicate his outstanding club form for Portugal, struggling to make a significant impact on the field.

Following the defeat, Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez resigned as the team begins to analyze the reasons behind their loss to Spain.

Wayne Rooney’s Analysis of Fernandes and Ronaldo

Wayne Rooney, now a World Cup pundit, shared his views on Fernandes’ performance and his interaction with Ronaldo during the game.

Speaking to the BBC, Rooney criticized Fernandes for not utilizing Ronaldo effectively, emphasizing the importance of involving the star player.

He remarked, “If you are playing Cristiano Ronaldo, you have to use him.”

Discussing a missed opportunity, Rooney said, “The ball could have been put in the box here, from Bruno, but he refused to put it in. If you play him, you have to use him; on set pieces he is still a massive threat for Portugal.”

Rooney also noted that Ronaldo is no longer effective receiving the ball from long range and advised the Portuguese players to focus on delivering the ball into the penalty area where Ronaldo remains dangerous.

He stated, “Get the ball into the penalty area where he is still effective.”

After the World Cup, Fernandes and Dalot will take a break following a demanding season before joining Manchester United’s upcoming pre-season tour.

Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images