Rio Ferdinand has urged Gareth Southgate to start Kobbie Mainoo against Switzerland at Euro 2024, jokingly threatening to ‘walk home’ if the youngster is left out. Southgate is expected to make changes for the quarter-final, with a switch to a three-man defense being considered. While England topped their group, their performances were underwhelming, and they only narrowly avoided a last-16 knockout thanks to late goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. Ferdinand, however, believes that Mainoo, who impressed for Manchester United last season, must keep his place in the team.
- Ferdinand is adamant that Mainoo should start, even joking that he would ‘walk home’ if the youngster is left out.
- Mainoo, 19, had a breakthrough season with Manchester United, earning a surprise call-up to the England squad.
- Roy Keane praised Mainoo’s performance, saying he has already mastered skills that took Keane 10 years to learn.
- Southgate is expected to start a back three or five, with Walker, Stones, and Konsa in defense, supported by Rice and Mainoo in midfield.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has issued a strong plea to Gareth Southgate, urging the manager to include Kobbie Mainoo in his starting lineup for England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Switzerland. Ferdinand even jokingly threatened to ‘walk home’ if Mainoo is left out of the crucial encounter.
Southgate is widely expected to make changes to his team following a series of underwhelming performances in the group stage. England managed to top their group, but they were far from convincing, and they only narrowly avoided a shock early exit in the last-16 thanks to late goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. Now, as they prepare for the quarter-final showdown, Southgate is considering a switch to a three-man defense.
However, Ferdinand is adamant that Mainoo, a 19-year-old midfielder who had a breakthrough season with Manchester United, must keep his place in the team. Mainoo was a surprise inclusion in Southgate’s 26-man squad, and he has already impressed in his limited appearances at the tournament.
Rio Ferdinand is adamant that Kobbie Mainoo must start for England against Switzerland.
Gareth Southgate is likely to make changes for the Euro 2024 quarter-final.
Ferdinand took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his opinion, writing, ‘If Kobbie ain’t starting, I’m walking back from Germany! [He] has to…’ This passionate statement highlights the impact that Mainoo has already made, not just on Ferdinand but on many England fans.
Mainoo’s inclusion in the England squad came as a surprise to many, but his performances for Manchester United last season were impressive enough to catch Southgate’s eye. He featured as a substitute in the group stage matches against Serbia and Slovenia, and he was given his first start in the crucial last-16 match, where he earned praise from United legend Roy Keane.
Keane, speaking to ITV, highlighted Mainoo’s impressive skill set, saying, ‘You see the stuff he is doing, I played in that position, but he’s doing stuff that probably took me 10 years to learn.’ He added, ‘He’s obviously had a great foundation at Man United and he’s getting into good habits, but we’ve seen in these big games – and when you’re playing for Man United, every game is a big game – so he’ll cope with all that.’
Ferdinand joked he would ‘walk home’ if Southgate leaves Mainoo out of his starting XI.
Mainoo was named in Southgate’s 26-man squad after an impressive season with Manchester United.
As for the rest of the team, it is expected that Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Ezri Konsa will form a back three or back five, with Declan Rice and Mainoo providing support in midfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka could operate as wing-backs, with Phil Foden and Bellingham playing as attacking midfielders behind Kane.
England have often utilized a back-five formation under Southgate at major tournaments, and it is likely that they will revert to this shape for the quarter-final match. The only absentee for the Three Lions is Marc Guehi, who is suspended.
