Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo missed England's 6-4 win over France in the World Cup third-place match due to a back injury sustained in the final training session. The 21-year-old Manchester United midfielder did not play a single minute of England's World Cup campaign but was expected to feature in the bronze medal match.
Mainoo's absence explained
Mainoo was not even named as a substitute for the game against France, with the Football Association confirming before kick-off that he was absent due to injury. Speaking after the match, Tuchel said: 'Kobbie was injured in the last training session yesterday morning. He had a sharp pain in the back within the training and he was not ready to play.'
Criticism of Tuchel's squad management
Tuchel's decision to overlook Mainoo throughout the World Cup has been widely criticised, particularly after England's 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. After being constantly left out of United's starting line-up by Ruben Amorim last season, Mainoo impressed in the second half of the campaign under Michael Carrick and earned a place in Tuchel's England squad. However, many have been puzzled by Tuchel's refusal to play Mainoo, especially with Declan Rice struggling with a hamstring problem since Christmas and an illness before the quarter-final win over Norway.
Former players weigh in
Ex-Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville said on The Overlap: 'Honestly, we were absolutely dead out on our feet. We couldn't get out of the box. We literally get pushed back, and then the midfield players sag back onto you because their legs have gone. I think the three of them [in midfield] were all absolutely out on their feet. You look at today, Declan definitely, he's not been right since day one, has he? That's a big problem for us. Him not having the energy and the speed to get to the ball. We know what he's like; he's a fantastic player. Kobbie Mainoo would be asking a question, wouldn't he? You'd be wanting answers if you're Kobbie Mainoo after not coming on at all. Because he can handle the ball a bit as well.'
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt urged Mainoo to make himself unavailable for the bronze medal match. 'I'd just refuse to play if I was Kobbie Mainoo. I'd say I was injured,' Butt said. 'It's a nonsense game, especially when you've been treated like that. He's not played a minute of football, now to go and start this pointless jumped-up friendly and potentially get injured for the whole season… no.'
