Rio Ferdinand insists Kobbie Mainoo must start for England against Switzerland otherwise he will ‘walk home’ from Germany.
The former England centre-back’s tongue-in-cheek suggestion comes after Mainoo’s refreshing performances in the Euro 2024 victories over Serbia and Slovenia.
Boss Gareth Southgate is yet to figure out his strongest midfield and is expected to make changes to his starting line-up ahead of Saturday’s crunch quarter-final.
England stuttered to a 2-1 win over Slovakia in the last 16 but knows his side will have to deliver much-improved performances if they are to get past an in-form Swiss outfit.
And to do that, Southgate may opt to shuffle the pack having worked on a formation consisting of three centre-backs in training this week.
That is likely to see a change in personnel, however Ferdinand believes Manchester United starlet Mainoo must keep his place in the starting XI.
Former Red Devils defender Ferdinand wrote on X: “If Kobbie ain’t starting, I’m walking back from Germany! [He] has to…”
Mainoo performed superbly for Manchester United last season and earned himself a spot in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.
He scored United’s opener in the FA Cup final to land his first senior trophy and won the Premier League Goal of the Month award for his last-gasp winner against Wolves.
And the 19-year-old has continued to show his worth at Euro 2024 which has prompted praise from former United skipper 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.”
Ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa have been tipped to form a back three with Rice and Mainoo in midfield.
That could see Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka occupying wing-back roles with Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham playing behind skipper Harry Kane.
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News Summary:
- Rio Ferdinand names one England player who must start against Switzerland – or he’s ‘walking back from Germany’
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.