Wayne Rooney did not hold back. Asked by Gabby Logan during BBC's coverage of the World Cup final for his thoughts on the halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the former England forward delivered a verdict that echoed around the globe. "I thought that was crap," he said flatly. The Daily Mail reported he used an even stronger expletive, describing the spectacle as "c***" and adding that "the best part was when it ended."
The halftime show, which stretched for 27 minutes and 19 seconds, featured a bewildering lineup. It began with Madonna performing an old song at a roller disco before leaving on a mobility scooter, accompanied by what some thought were lookalikes of Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho — but turned out to be the real players. The surreal sequence continued with what appeared to be Janice from The Muppets on guitar, backed by Kermit and Animal. Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Shakira, and BTS also made appearances, prompting one commentator to compare the event to the Eurovision Song Contest. Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams — the latter in a tracksuit as if attending a Sopranos-themed party — further contributed to the chaos.
“Wayne Rooney called World Cup final halftime show 'crap' on BBC, savaging the controversial spectacle.”
Earlier, Jennifer Hudson had "absolutely murdered" the Star Spangled Banner, according to The Sun, which noted that signs were poor from the start. The Sun's correspondent declared that Rooney "spoke for BBC1 viewers, the nation and planet earth" with his blunt assessment. Rooney's comments came after a first half that had already left a global audience of billions "needing a lift."
The debacle at the MetLife Stadium has left football's governing body facing a reputational crisis. The only way to salvage its image, The Sun argued, is to reconsider future halftime entertainments. For now, Rooney's words have become the defining takeaway from a night when the sport's showcase event was upstaged by what many saw as a cheese-dream of a show.