England have advanced to the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the fourth time in their history, but three outfield players are yet to see a minute of action: Trevoh Chalobah, Ivan Toney, and Kobbie Mainoo.
England's World Cup Run So Far
The Three Lions have battled through tough matches against DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway to reach the last four. A win against Argentina on Wednesday would put them in their first World Cup final since 1966. Manager Thomas Tuchel has rotated his squad effectively, using 20 of his 23 outfield players across six matches.
Why Chalobah and Toney Haven't Played
Trevoh Chalobah was a late replacement for the injured Tino Livramento, so his lack of game time is unsurprising. Ivan Toney is reportedly in the squad primarily as a penalty specialist, given his excellent record from the spot. Neither has been needed in that capacity yet.
The Surprise: Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United youngster who impressed under Michael Carrick, has been an unused substitute throughout the tournament. With Declan Rice struggling with injury, many expected Mainoo to get an opportunity. However, Tuchel has instead turned to Reece James, who replaced Rice at half-time in the Norway quarter-final.
Explaining his substitutions in that match, Tuchel said: "Very good [on the subs], Reece James was excellent, Morgan Rogers was fantastic today, Ebs [Eze] grew into the game, Djed grew into the game. Full credit to them. But overall yeah, we got lucky today. It's about quality. We need to play better. We will get better."
What's Next for the Unused Trio?
England have at least two more matches—a semi-final and either the final or third-place play-off. Mainoo, Toney, and Chalobah will hope to feature before the tournament ends.
