World Cup 2026: Why has England midfielder Kobi Mainu failed to play a minute for Thomas Tuchel this summer? | football news

Kobbie Mainoo has cut a pretty helpless look in this World Cup.

He is one of only three outfield players who did not participate in the tournament at all. Evan Toney and Trevo Chalobah are others, and they probably understand them very well.

Chalobah was a late replacement for the injured Tino Livramento and therefore always knew he was the back-up defender. For most matches, he has John Stones waiting on the bench in front of him.

Tonic Tuchel said he is a ‘finisher’ – a player unlikely to start unless Harry Kane is injured.

Kane is fully fit and has scored six goals in the tournament. And we haven’t gone to a penalty shoot-out yet, so last-minute Tony’s appearance is not necessary.

But for Mainu there is an air of desperation and, it seems, a bit of disillusionment. For each of England’s six matches, he has been the first to leave the dressing room after a game and always the first on the team bus.

On every occasion I saw him walking on his own, not with a teammate. Let us be clear, he did not disappoint. But he is a little lost.

The Manchester United midfielder was 18 when he started for England in the Euro 2024 final and could be forgiven for thinking a glorious international future lay ahead of him.

It probably still will. But the reality is he didn’t play a minute of soccer this summer in the United States and Mexico.

It’s especially surprising when you consider that Jordan Henderson broke his wrist in post-Mexico celebrations the moment the tournament ended, and when you see substitute midfielder Thomas Tuchel used ahead of Mainu.

Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson are clearly two of England’s favorites and have been dominant throughout the tournament. Since completing his move to Manchester City midway through the tournament, Anderson has gone from strength to strength, and had his best game of the tournament against Norway in the quarter-finals.

Rice is England’s vice-captain and one of the first names on the team sheet when fit. He has battled illness and injury throughout this World Cup, but not enough to keep him off the pitch for any significant period of time.

to Norway.

Because of a Mexican stomach bug that confined Rice to his bed for three days before the game, he was only able to stomach 45 minutes at the Miami Hot House.

Mainu must have imagined his possibilities. But Tuchel instead chose to play two players out of their strong positions.

First, Eberechi came to Eze for rice. Tuchel said he wanted to go more attacking and so brought in the Arsenal man to try to make England more progressive, pass between the lines and improve their penetration.

Mainu would argue with some justification that his energy and passing skills could be very useful for England in the second half in Miami, just as the heat was destroying the effectiveness of many of his teammates.

Then Reece James came on midway through the second half, despite struggling with a hamstring injury. Tuchel has often turned to James as one of his preferred defensive-midfield options, despite his defining role in the England team – as it often is at Chelsea – as a right-back.

Next, Ezeri Konsa – playing as a stand-in right-back – had to go off with cramps. James went back on the defensive, Mainu’s eyes must have lit up.

But again he was ignored. Morgan Rodgers comes into midfield and EJ moves to the left wing.

While the series of events has been difficult for Mainu, it’s hard to argue with Tuchel’s reasoning for putting James and EJ ahead of him in the circumstances.

It’s a shame for England’s brightest young talent but it’s inevitable as Tuchel chases the ultimate prize.