Rio Ferdinand has joked he will ‘walk home’ from Germany if Gareth Southgate drops Kobbie Mainoo for England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
Southgate has been urged to make changes for England’s huge quarter-final clash on Saturday after his side’s stuttering start to the Euros.
The Three Lions failed to beat Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage after a nervy opening win over Serbia, and then appeared to be heading out during a dismal performance against Slovakia.
England could not break Slovakia down after they opened the scoring midway through the first half and needed a moment of brilliance from Jude Bellingham to equalise, the Real Madrid midfielder producing a stunning overhead kick in the dying seconds.
Southgate’s side scored again in the first minute of extra-time – Harry Kane bagging his second goal of the tournament – as they stumbled more than stormed into the quarter-finals of the Euros.
Due to England’s underwhelming and disjointed performances in Germany, Southgate is considering a change in formation for Saturday’s clash with Switzerland.
He will make at least one change for the quarter-final tie as Marc Guehi picked up his second yellow of the Euros against Slovakia, meaning he is suspended for the game in Dusseldorf.
Southgate may yet decide to make more changes as he desperately looks to get a tune out of the pre-tournament favourites but Ferdinand insists Mainoo should not be one of them.
The 19-year-old was taken to Germany following a breakthrough season at Manchester United and has impressed whenever he has got an opportunity for the Three Lions.
Ferdinand wrote on X: ‘If Kobbie ain’t starting, I’m walking back from Germany! [He] has to…’
Like Ferdinand, former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has also been impressed by Mainoo’s performances at the Euros, but says he would still drop the teenager against Switzerland.
‘I thought Kobbie Mainoo did very well,’ Sheringham told Poker Sites. ‘He’s very comfortable on the ball and had no problems at all.
‘He’s a natural midfield player, which means it’s going to come naturally to him. I don’t like Trent Alexander-Arnold coming in there – I know he can find an unbelievable pass, but that’s not everything about playing in midfield.
‘Mainoo looks a better fit for the role. Having said that, I actually would leave Mainoo out of the next game, to allow Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham to play in midfield together with Declan Rice behind him.
‘I’d bring in Anthony Gordon at left wing just to give the team some sort of release to relieve pressure. He can run onto those balls over the top and get the defence thinking about something different.
‘At the moment, everyone wants the ball to feet, which is making everything very tight and allows the opposition to come close to you. Gordon on the left would allow us to get in behind the defence more.
‘I can see that benefitting Harry Kane too – if he drops to receive the ball, Gordon can make those runs to stretch the defence, and all of a sudden defenders won’t get as close to Kane anymore. That could be invaluable in the next few games.’
