Wayne Rooney believes Thomas Tuchel should remain as England manager unless the Football Association (FA) can bring in Pep Guardiola.

An inquest is under way after England spurned the chance to reach a second-ever men’s World Cup final, following their semi-final collapse against rivals Argentina.

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Tuchel’s position has been widely criticised for his decision-making in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss, as England’s strategy led to another disappointing exit reminiscent of previous tournaments under Sir Gareth Southgate.

However, the Press Association reports that Tuchel retains support from key figures at the FA, who extended the German coach’s contract until 2028 in February.

Rooney argues Tuchel should stay unless Guardiola, a name previously discussed by the FA, is a viable option. “I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola,” Rooney stated on the Wayne Rooney Show. “If Pep is available, then maybe you go and get him.

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“I think he is a top-class manager, and what the top managers do [is] they learn from the mistakes and they improve and get better.

“If we sack him, what managers are we going to bring in? And I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s as good as Thomas Tuchel, unless Guardiola.

“But the big thing for me is he’s not experienced at World Cups. We had the exact same with [Fabio] Capello. The World Cup is different, and you need to feel that environment, and now he’s felt it.”