England icon Gary Neville has publicly questioned why Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo failed to receive a single minute of playing time during the FIFA World Cup. As the only member of the England squad who did not feature in any match, Mainoo is expected to be left feeling disheartened by his exclusion from the tournament.
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville argued that the young midfielder could have provided a necessary alternative, particularly when established players struggled to maintain energy levels. Describing the team's late-game fatigue, Neville noted that the midfield trio appeared exhausted and unable to push forward, stating that they were often pinned back and struggling to get out of their own box. He specifically pointed to Declan Rice's performance, suggesting the midfielder has not looked like himself since the start of the tournament, lacking the speed and energy required to reach the ball effectively.
Neville emphasized that Mainoo, who was called up to the squad by Thomas Tuchel, would be justified in seeking an explanation for his absence from the pitch, noting that the youngster has the technical ability to handle the ball under pressure. This situation stands in contrast to other squad members like Jordan Henderson, who secured minutes earlier in the tournament against Panama before suffering an injury after the victory over Mexico, ultimately becoming the first English player to appear in four different editions of the competition.
Beyond his comments on Mainoo, Neville also offered a critique of England's tactical management during their semifinal match. He suggested that holding a 1-0 lead required bolder decision-making, specifically regarding captain Harry Kane. Neville argued that if the goal was to exploit space on the counter-attack, the team should have replaced Kane, or potentially Jude Bellingham, with faster options like Marcus Rashford or Morgan Rogers to bolster the attack in central areas.
England is now set to face France in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff, scheduled for Saturday, July 18. This match will take place less than 24 hours before the tournament final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19.
