Kobbie Mainoo’s World Cup ended without a single minute of action. The 21-year-old Manchester United midfielder was ruled out of England’s third-place play-off against France on Saturday through injury, a brief statement from the Football Association confirmed: “Kobbie Mainoo is ruled out of today’s matchday squad to face France due to injury.”
Mainoo was an unused substitute in all seven of England’s previous tournament matches — against Croatia, Ghana, Panama, DR Congo, Mexico, Norway and Argentina — and will now wait four years for another chance to make his World Cup debut. He was included in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad ahead of Adam Wharton and Alex Scott.
“Kobbie Mainoo ruled out of England's World Cup bronze match vs France through injury, leaving tournament with zero minutes played.”
Tuchel made seven changes to his starting lineup for the bronze final, the match previously known as the third-place play-off. England were chasing a medal after their World Cup hopes were shattered by a dramatic semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.
The decision to leave Mainoo on the bench throughout the tournament drew criticism from veteran manager Neil Warnock. Speaking to talkSPORT, Warnock said: “He was the type of lad that you needed in that last 25 minutes because he’s got the legs, he can hold it up, he can run with the ball.” Warnock suggested Tuchel should have addressed the player directly rather than through the press: “You don’t say that to the press. You tell the player. You put an arm around the player and say: ‘Look, you’re not training so good son, can you lift your percentage up?’”
Mainoo made 30 appearances for United last season, scoring one goal and providing three assists. He won over manager Michael Carrick after being repeatedly overlooked by predecessor Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils, who lost 1-0 to Wrexham in their pre-season opener earlier on Saturday, will hope Mainoo’s injury is not serious as they prepare for their Premier League opener away to Hull City on August 22.
The England squad now face France in the bronze final, with a place on the podium at stake.