Wayne Rooney has never been the type to sugarcoat things, and he wasn’t about to start now. The Manchester United legend turned World Cup pundit took direct aim at Bruno Fernandes after Portugal crashed out in the round of 16, losing 1-0 to Spain.
For Fernandes, it was a frustrating end to a tournament that never really got going. The midfielder, who carried United through much of last season, couldn’t replicate that form for his country. He looked disconnected from the game against Spain, and Rooney noticed.
Rooney Calls Out Fernandes for Not Feeding Ronaldo
Speaking to the BBC, Rooney focused on one specific issue: Fernandes failing to get the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo in dangerous areas. There was a moment in the match where a cross into the box seemed obvious. Fernandes had the ball. The pass was on. It never came.
“If you are playing Cristiano Ronaldo, you have to use him,” 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 didn’t stop there. He pointed out that Ronaldo is no longer the kind of player who can pick up the ball 30 yards from goal, beat three defenders, and finish. That version of Ronaldo is gone. But the current version still has value if the team plays to his strengths.
“Get the ball into the penalty area where he is still effective,” Rooney said.
It’s a fairly blunt critique, but it’s also hard to argue with. Portugal had Ronaldo up top and spent large stretches of the game failing to find him in spots where he could actually do damage. Fernandes, as the primary creator in midfield, carries a lot of that responsibility.
What Comes Next for Fernandes and Portugal
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has already stepped down, which means the whole setup is getting re-evaluated. For Fernandes, the next few weeks are about rest. He and fellow United fullback Diogo Dalot are headed for a well-earned holiday before linking up with United’s preseason tour.
But the questions about his international form won’t just disappear. Fernandes had an incredible season at club level — one of the best in the Premier League by any midfielder’s standard. But for Portugal, he looked like a different player. Less confident. Less decisive. And now one of the greatest players in the history of the sport has played his last World Cup match, which makes the failure to use him properly sting even more.
Rooney said what a lot of people were thinking. Whether it changes anything for Fernandes going forward is another question entirely.
Leave a Comment