June 25th 2024.
After England's draw with Slovenia, manager Gareth Southgate had nothing but praise for Kobbie Mainoo, who made a significant impact on the game. Football pundit Gary Neville also believes that Mainoo should be a starter in England's midfield for their upcoming Euro 2024 last-16 tie on Sunday.
Despite finishing top of their group, England's performance against Slovenia was once again disjointed and lacked cohesion. Southgate acknowledged the ongoing issues with the team's midfield, which has been a problem throughout the tournament.
In an attempt to address this, Southgate made a crucial substitution at halftime, replacing Conor Gallagher with Mainoo. The Manchester United player immediately brought a much-needed balance to England's midfield, and Neville is convinced that Mainoo has earned his spot in the starting lineup for the last-16 tie.
"I'm certain Mainoo will start in the next game," Neville confidently stated during an interview with ITV. He also noted that while Gallagher was brought in for his energy, it was clear that Mainoo was the player who could get England playing their best football. Neville also mentioned that Wharton, another young player, could also contribute to the team's midfield.
As the Group C winners, England's potential opponents in the last-16 tie are Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, or Belgium. Regardless of who they face, Southgate is confident that Mainoo and Chelsea's Cole Palmer, who also made an impact in the second half, will continue to play a crucial role in the team's success.
"Cole Palmer was very good," Southgate praised. "He finds space well, has great technique, and remains calm under pressure. We're balancing the challenge of integrating young players into a difficult environment, but they both played exceptionally well for us."
Although England did not get the desired result against Slovenia, Southgate sees plenty of positives to build on for their next game. He acknowledged the good performance from Gallagher, who started the game, and the positive impact from Mainoo, who came on as a substitute.
As the team prepares for their last-16 tie, all eyes will be on Mainoo and his ability to bring balance and cohesion to England's midfield. And with the promising talents of players like Palmer, the future looks bright for the Three Lions.
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