Euro 2016

Danny Murphy: 'Wayne Rooney should play at tip of diamond'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 26 May 2016

Former England international Danny Murphy calls for Roy Hodgson to play Wayne Rooney at the tip of a diamond formation behind two strikers at Euro 2016.

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy has said that he would play a diamond formation at Euro 2016, with Wayne Rooney at the tip behind two strikers.

Rooney's place in the side has been the subject of fierce debate for some time now due to an underwhelming season with Manchester United in which he failed to reach double figures of goals in the Premier League for the first time during his 12-year stay at the club.

However, as captain he is expected to start for Roy Hodgson at this summer's tournament, and Murphy believes that he would be best suited in the number 10 role behind Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane.

"I would play [Vardy and Kane] up top, and let them cause havoc. I'd play the diamond with [Eric] Dier sitting, and I'd have Rooney at the tip of it," he told talkSPORT.

"Dele Alli's happy coming in from the left, he did it loads for Tottenham; him and [Christian] Eriksen swapped a lot. So you'd have Rooney at the tip of it, and if he was starved of the ball higher up, he could drop deep anyway and get on the ball.

"Then it allows Vardy to stretch [the opposition] and play in the position he loves. For me, on the right, I'd probably play [Danny] Drinkwater - but I think he'll play [Jordan] Henderson. I don't think he'll take Drinkwater [to the Euros]."

Hodgson must pick his final 23-man squad for the tournament by May 31, with Friday's friendly against Australia being England's last game before that deadline.