Thomas Tuchel snubbed Kobbie Mainoo after unimpressive World Cup training
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo did not play a single minute for England during the World Cup following tactical decisions by Thomas Tuchel.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo鈥檚 participation in England鈥檚 World Cup campaign in the United States has concluded without him recording a single minute of action. The 21-year-old, who arrived at the tournament following a resurgence at club level under manager Michael Carrick, remained an unused substitute throughout all of England鈥檚 matches. The 21-year-old started the Euro 2024 final.
Training Ground Friction
The decision to sideline Mainoo appears rooted in tactical observations made by England manager Thomas Tuchel during the group stage. As primary midfielder Declan Rice grappled with fitness issues prior to the match against Ghana, Tuchel experimented with a pairing of Mainoo and Elliot Anderson in training. According to reports, Tuchel did not like what he saw, leading him to favor alternative options despite Rice's visible struggle with injury and illness throughout the tournament.
Media additions
This assessment represents a departure from the role Mainoo occupied under Michael Carrick. After struggling for opportunities under former manager Ruben Amorim, Mainoo became a central figure in Carrick鈥檚 system at Manchester United, a period the midfielder credited for his return to the national squad. Regarding his resurgence under Carrick, Mainoo stated:
"If he hadn't put me on the pitch, then I wouldn't have been here so I'm always grateful to him for that"
Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United midfielder, via Manchester Evening News
A Rotated and Depleted Midfield
Mainoo鈥檚 exclusion became a point of contention as England鈥檚 tournament progressed. During the quarter-final victory over Norway, Tuchel opted to move Chelsea defender Reece James into an auxiliary midfield role rather than utilizing his specialist options on the bench. Tuchel explained the decision, stating:
"We put in [Reece] James as a six, which freed up Elliot Anderson at the eight, and Jude back on the 10."
Thomas Tuchel, England Manager, via Manchester Evening News
Furthermore, Jordan Henderson was introduced during the group stage match against Panama, a move that prompted debate given the alternatives available to the manager. Pundits have weighed in on the situation, with Gary Neville noting on The Overlap that England鈥檚 midfield appeared physically depleted, particularly during the semi-final defeat to Argentina. Neville questioned the lack of energy in the center of the pitch, suggesting that Mainoo鈥檚 ability to handle the ball a bit
could have provided an answer to the team鈥檚 struggles. On The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Paul Scholes questioned Tuchel鈥檚 rotation choices, while Nicky Butt expressed concern that it would not be fair to introduce the midfielder at such a late stage of the tournament after an extended period of inactivity.
Player Isolation and Future Outlook
Reports indicate that the lack of game time had a visible impact on the midfielder. Observers noted that Mainoo was often the first player to leave the stadium after matches, frequently seen alone with headphones on. Mainoo is currently one of three outfield players in the England squad, alongside Trevoh Chalobah and Ivan Toney, who have not featured in a single minute of play.
The focus now shifts to Mainoo鈥檚 return to Carrington. He is expected to reintegrate with a Manchester United squad that has already added midfielders Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
