Manchester United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo featured in England’s final group stage game of Euro 2024.
Kobbie Mainoo knows all about what it is like trying to re-energise a struggling team. He did it with Manchester United last season.
Trying to rescue Gareth Southgate’s England side, on the other hand, might be an even tougher test, even for a player with Mainoo’s unstoppable rise.
Mainoo was thrown on at half-time with England labouring against Slovenia. The game ended 0-0, despite the Manchester United youngster’s best efforts to turn it around.
Kobbie Mainoo almost won it
Kobbie Mainoo almost won the game for England with an outrageous backheel on the edge of the Slovenia box in the 91st minute.
Mainoo’s pass split the Slovenian defence, which had been watertight all game. Harry Kane then slipped the ball into Cole Palmer, with the chance begging for the Chelsea star to curl the ball into the corner.
Instead, Palmer weakly shot the ball low at the goalkeeper, summing up England’s meek performance.
United fans on social media were worried for Mainoo, given how players at the club often end up going away with England and being heavily criticised.
But this was a moment where Mainoo showed he had the spark, as the one England player able to make something happen.
One supporter wrote on X: “That backheel by Kobbie Mainoo holy s___!”
Another added: “That flick Mainoo did was more entertaining than anything else that happened that game. My starboy.”
A third wrote: “Kobbie Mainoo. Fantastic flick. Shame he didn’t get the one two back from Kane.”
Another supporter added: “You see that flick by Mainoo and Kane wasn’t in the right position again! Sleeping like! That was the chance.”
And another fan aded: “That flick from Mainoo wow. Kane lacking the confidence to do anything with it himself..”
Kobbie Mainoo outperformed Conor Gallagher
Speaking post-game on ITV, former Manchester United star Gary Neville said he was ‘certain’ Kobbie Mainoo will start in the next game.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher had been picked to start. He completed only 17 passes and had 24 touches.
Mainoo replaced him at half-time, completing 33 of 34 passes attempts, with 40 touches.
And none were more glorious than his backheel flick, which itself was worthy of a goal. If only his teammates had executed their roles so well…