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Scholes Warns Tuchel Over Mainoo's England World Cup Call-Up
3 Jul
Summary
- Kobbie Mainoo has yet to play a minute in the 2026 World Cup.
- Paul Scholes believes playing Mainoo now would be unfair to the player.
- Thomas Tuchel's selection choices have been questioned by Scholes.
England's 2026 World Cup campaign faces scrutiny as midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has still not seen any game time. Despite pressure to include the Manchester United star, manager Thomas Tuchel opted against it in the recent match against DR Congo. Paul Scholes, a Manchester United legend, voiced his concerns on 'The Good, The Bad & The Football' podcast.
Scholes believes that introducing Mainoo into a crucial upcoming match against Mexico, without any prior minutes in the tournament, would be an unfair decision for the young player. He questioned the initial decision to include Mainoo in the squad if he wasn't going to be utilized. Scholes also criticized Tuchel's team selection, suggesting the manager has not picked players with sufficient flair, impacting the team's overall performance.
Despite England securing a spot in the last-16, the team's playing style has drawn criticism. Scholes lamented that Tuchel, known for brilliant football at big clubs, seems to be making decisions more akin to an English manager. He highlighted Mainoo and Eberechi Eze as England's two most talented footballers but noted they are not being played, which Scholes feels is hindering the team's ability to play 'good football'. The next match against Mexico is scheduled for Sunday.
