Paul Scholes has insisted that one Euro 2024 nation must better utilise a Manchester United star who offers much-needed “control” and can make a team “play football.”
Euro 2024 nations have been vying for a place in the knockout stages of the tournament and some of the favourites have already reached the last 16.
Host nation Germany have already punched their ticket to the round of 16 after finishing top of Group A ahead of Switzerland.
Portugal, much like Germany, are through to the knockout rounds of the tournament after their 3-0 win over Turkey in their second Group F clash on Saturday.
However, Roberto Martinez’s men still have a match in hand and will face Georgia on Wednesday in their final Group F fixture.
France, on the other hand, are second in Group D and Didier Deschamps’ men are still fighting for their place in the last 16.
England, who are one of the tournament favourites, are currently top of Group C and Gareth Southgate’s men face Slovenia on Tuesday evening.
Scholes talks Man Utd star’s influence
Speaking to TNT Sports, Paul Scholes insisted that England must better utilise Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo was included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, but the Three Lions star has only managed a couple of minutes at the tournament.
The 19-year-old England midfielder played only four minutes in the Group C opener against Serbia before he was left as an unused substitute against Denmark.
Southgate has been ‘experimenting’ with Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been preferred ahead of Mainoo as a midfield partner for Declan Rice.
Scholes has previously urged Southgate to call on Mainoo in England’s Euro 2024 campaign and the United legend doubled down on the Red Devils midfielder.
“I think [Phil Foden] can play on the left-hand side, he’s done that for Manchester City loads of times,” he said.
“It’s just having control of the ball in the middle of the pitch. If you don’t have control in the middle of the pitch, then he can’t go wandering inside where he is most dangerous.
“I’m sure that is what the plan is: to get Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold to control the game and then you can virtually do what you want then going forward.
“Phil Foden can pop up anywhere he wants to on a football pitch and he’ll be a threat.
“If Kobbie Mainoo came in, all of a sudden you have control. You have a player who makes your team play football.”
Scholes compares Mainoo to two players
Scholes went as far as to suggest that Mainoo offers the same influence on a team as Toni Kroos did for Real Madrid and Germany and Rodri does for Manchester City and Spain.
“Sometimes it takes just one player to be able to do that. You think of Toni Kroos with Germany,” he continued.
“He just makes them play football; he makes Real Madrid play football.
“Rodri for Man City and Spain, he makes your team play football and I think Mainoo has got the ability to do that.
“And all of a sudden that frees up Jude Bellingham, who’s not worried he has to come back every time and try and help with the build-up.
“Foden would be exactly the same. I just think that one change could make a hell of [a] difference to this team.
“They’re going to get better; they’ll win tomorrow and history tells you they do get better as the tournament goes on.
“Fingers crossed it happens because it’s a little bit worrying at the minute but with a good performance tomorrow, that’ll all be put to bed.”