Kobbie Mainoo was one of the few members of Thomas Tuchel's squad not to play a single minute of England's promising but ultimately unsuccessful World Cup campaign. Mainoo was one of England's most influential players during their run to the Euro 2024 final and earned a spot in the World Cup squad with a strong finish to the 2025-26 season.
The 21-year-old went through a difficult period at Manchester United under former manager Ruben Amorim but got far more game-time once Michael Carrick took over at Old Trafford. Mainoo was one of five central midfielders selected by Tuchel alongside Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson.
Tuchel's preferred midfield options
It came as no surprise that Rice and Anderson started the World Cup as Tuchel's two preferred options in midfield, as the former had just helped Arsenal win the Premier League and the latter had earned a £116m move to Manchester City. But Tuchel continued to overlook Rice even as the Gunners midfielder was clearly struggling with a recurring injury and, during England's quarter-final win over Norway, a bout of illness.
Chelsea right-back Reece James was selected in midfield ahead of Mainoo, while 36-year-old Jordan Henderson even got some minutes and may have got more had it not been for the wrist injury he suffered in a freak accident following the Mexico win.
Mainoo's frustration grows
Mainoo looked increasingly frustrated as the tournament went on and was the first player to leave the stadium after games in 'almost every match', according to the Daily Mail. It is claimed Tuchel did experiment with a Mainoo and Anderson midfield partnership in training during the group stage when it became apparent that Rice was struggling. There was even a feeling among the squad that Mainoo would play, but Tuchel was reportedly unimpressed by what he saw in training and decided to go in another direction.
A number of pundits suggested Mainoo, a midfielder who can get on the ball and dictate play, could have been the perfect antidote to Argentina's push for an equaliser and ultimately a winner in England's heartbreaking semi-final defeat.
Gary Neville's criticism
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.'
Scholes and Butt weigh in
Before England's semi-final against Argentina, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt said it would not be 'fair' for Tuchel to suddenly call upon Mainoo given his repeated snubs out in the United States. Discussing Mainoo's lack of minutes during England's World Cup campaign, Paul Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: 'It seems like it's anybody but Kobbie Mainoo for Thomas Tuchel at the minute. He's bringing Reece James on who hasn't played for three weeks because of a hamstring injury. Only Tuchel will know why, I can't imagine Kobbie being a problem in the camp. But every manager has their favourites, of course they do.'
Butt then added: 'Do you know something? I actually hope Kobbie Mainoo doesn't come on now. Because he's probably so down, he's not played and he's not kicked a football in a real game. He's been training, obviously, but if he goes in now, the only thing he can do is bad. He's not going to be at the level to go and play at that level in a semi-final. I hope he doesn't come on. It's anybody but Kobbie for Tuchel. He won't be the first one to go to a World Cup and not play a minute, there's a few players who have done that.'
What next for Mainoo?
Tuchel may give Mainoo some game-time in England's third-place play-off against France on Saturday night, but whether that would even be welcome news to the United star is unclear.
