Rio Ferdinand has urged Gareth Southgate to start Kobbie Mainoo against Switzerland at Euro 2024, joking he will ‘walk home’ if he misses out.
Boss Southgate is widely expected to make changes for the quarter-final showdown this weekend and has been tipped to switch to a three-man backline.
The Three Lions topped Group C on five points but delivered three underwhelming displays as they beat Serbia 1-0 and drew with Denmark and Slovenia.
They then teetered on the brink of a shock last-16 knockout, with Jude Bellingham‘s stunning late equaliser rescuing them against Slovakia before Harry Kane‘s winner.
As a result, Southgate may be tempted to tear up the script in a bid to lift his side’s performance levels – but Ferdinand is adamant Mainoo must keep his place.
Rio Ferdinand is adamant Kobbie Mainoo must start for England against Switzerland
Gareth Southgate is likely to make changes for the Euro 2024 quarter-final showdown
Ferdinand joked he would ‘walk home’ if Southgate leaves Mainoo out of his starting XI
Ferdinand wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘If Kobbie ain’t starting, I’m walking back from Germany! [He] has to…’
Mainoo, 19, enjoyed a scintillating breakthrough campaign at Manchester United last season, earning himself a surprise spot in Southgate’s 26-man squad.
He has featured against Serbia and Slovenia as a substitute and was given the nod from the off last weekend, earning the praise of United legend Roy Keane.
‘You see the stuff he is doing, I played in that position, but he’s doing stuff that probably took me 10 years to learn,’ Keane told ITV.
‘He’s obviously had a great foundation at Man United and he’s getting into good habits but we’ve seen in these big games – and when you’re playing for Man United, every game is a big game for Man United, so he’ll cope with all that.’
Mainoo was named in Southgate’s 26-man squad after a superb season at Manchester United
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher were initially trialled alongside Declan Rice in a double midfield pivot, the former dropping into a deeper position in a self-confessed ‘experiment’ from Southgate for the first two group matches.
It is now expected, however, that Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa will make up a back three, supported by Rice and Mainoo.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka may line up as wing backs with Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham operating as No10s behind Harry Kane.
England have often deployed a back three formation under Southgate at major tournaments and are likely to revert to the shape for tomorrow’s match.
Marc Guehi is the only absentee for the Three Lions through suspension.
