It was Kobbie Mainoo’s big chance to impress tonight, and footage of his performance has emerged and it’s got everybody talking
Kobbie Mainoo’s highlights from his complete England debut have surfaced online, indicating that he must be on the aircraft to the Euros.
Mainoo has been promoted to the senior squad following a run of strong performances for Manchester United.
The 18-year-old made his debut against Brazil on Saturday, delivering an impressive cameo that left supporters wanting more.
He was given his first start against Belgium on Tuesday night at Wembley, and he seized the opportunity with both hands.
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Mainoo seemed quite at home in the midst of the park, beside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.
He played 74 minutes and had a performance that was so poised with the ball at his feet.
His moment of brilliance in the buildup to England’s first goal, when he skipped past numerous defenders and found Bellingham in the pocket, summed up his performance.
Youri Tielemans, who scored twice, expected Mainoo to pass the ball square before his incredible burst.
Mainoo was unfazed and came close to scoring in the second half, but Mats Selz denied him from close range.
He was extremely aggressive in his tackles and tried tirelessly to recover the ball.
The Stockport kid is a breath of fresh air, and Gareth Southgate is already enjoying having him at his disposal.
In a news conference, Southgate stated, “He [Mainoo] seems very calm.”Clearly, he is absorbing everything in. Talking to him tactically, he appears to be able to grasp all of those principles.
“A lot of progress is being made in a short period of time, but you saw some of his qualities in a quick cameo the other day.
“I believe that sometimes, with the really young ones, they are not even thinking about it. It’s all flowing, and maybe as you get older, you’ll think about it more.”
