Kobbie Mainoo shares same World Cup heartache on England duty as his Man Utd boss

MICHAEL CARRICK and Kobbie Mainoo have something unique in common: they were both included in England World Cup squads and did not play a minute. In England’s “celebratory” squad photo with their bronze medals, Mainoo stood at the back. Perhaps deliberately, he placed himself behind the towering Jarell Quansah and John Stones, two centre-backs. Kobbie Mainoo played no part in Miami Credit: Getty Mainoo is barely noticeable in England’s bronze-medal line-up Credit: Europa Press via Getty Images Mainoo bore the same sullen expression in the United States as when he arrived for Manchester United games in the first half of last season. His headphones were on, drowning out the noise. Mainoo might have heard the rancour over his continued omissions from across the Atlantic. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Mainoo was to Thomas Tuchel what James Maddison was to Gareth Southgate in Qatar 2022. Populist picks they did not really want to make but were crowdpleasing inclusions that took some of the heat off the England manager. There may be a ‘United>England’ banner permanently pinned up at Old Trafford but United supporters clearly care about Mainoo’s benchwarming tour of the United States. It was in the USA three years ago that he asserted himself so impressively in the United midfield he was certain to start the season in the starting XI until a freak ankle injury against Real Madrid in Houston. Mainoo will be available for two games, at the most, for United this pre-season, but he is assured of a starting status at Hull on August 22 – provided that he has recovered from a “sharp pain in the back”. Conspiracy theories abounded over that timing. Nicky Butt, in shock-jock form on his podcast again, suggested Mainoo should boycott the third-place match against France. Mainoo was also coincidentally injured for Ruben Amorim’s final three games as United head coach when he would have been assured of a starting role amid a rare Bruno Fernandes lay-off. Most read in Sport WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS It is still a stretch to imagine that a 21-year-old would feign injury and skip playing at a World Cup. Trevoh Chalobah’s late cameo in Miami meant Mainoo was the only outfield England player not to appear at the finals. Mainoo had merited inclusion and was wasted when he was needed, particularly in the knockout ties against Norway and Argentina. Carrick, in 2010, was fortunate to make the 23-man cut. Carrick was reeling from his worst season with United, bookended by high-profile demotions after costly errors against Burnley and Bayern Munich. His tame penalty failure at Turf Moor allowed Burnley to mark their top-flight return with an unforgettable victory. Against Bayern in the Champions League quarter-finals, Carrick was feeble for Ivica Olic’s momentum-swinging goal and left Arjen Robben unmarked for the tie-deciding strike. Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry were mainstays in Fabio Capello’s midfield 16 years ago. Capello tried to coax Paul Scholes out of international retirement, six years on from his last England appearance. Scholes declined – something he later said he regretted. Capello even checked in on Carrick’s other United teammate Owen Hargreaves, who had played one minute in 20 months. Capello reluctantly included Carrick. He was handed the No22 shirt, an indicator Carrick would have more time to spend seeing the lions in South Africa than representing the Three Lions. That World Cup came in the midst of what Carrick described as a two-year depression. He later admitted he did not want to be involved in the England set-up. Michael Carrick, left, was picked for the 2010 World Cup squad but failed to play a minute Credit: PA:Press Association Carrick played in a pre-World Cup friendly in 2010 Credit: PA:Empics Sport Carrick was 28 at the time and his only England World Cup appearance turned out to be a masterful display against Ecuador in the last 16 in 2006. Mainoo, 21, has time on his side, if not Tuchel. Competition is intense. Jordan Henderson and his pom-poms should not be accommodated at future England camps but Alex Scott, Adam Wharton and James Garner are technicians who, like Mainoo, make a mockery of Tuchel’s “DNA” drivel. As much as Mainoo’s demeanor during the World Cup has been reminiscent of his final five months under Amorim, he will be returning to an environment at United where he is valued by the coach, the hierarchy and supporters. He has started in every game he has been available for under Carrick and United’s two defeats came with Mainoo off the pitch. The inevitable five-year contract marks Mainoo as still the biggest recent investment in the United midfield, despite the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Mainoo demonstrated in the second half of last season he can hit the ground running after a prolonged period of watching, rather than playing. Tuchel’s September squad announcement should be revealing. Less than two months after the 2010 World Cup, Carrick was absent from the England squad for the August friendly with Hungary due to an ankle injury. The next day, Carrick started for United in the Community Shield against Chelsea at Wembley. Awkwardly, he had to pass Capello after collecting his winner’s medal. Capello seemed to say, “I thought you were injured” and made a telephone gesture to Carrick, as if to suggest to Carrick he should have called to provide an explanation. Carrick played 80 minutes. Sir Alex Ferguson, with a straight face, still said afterwards he was not sure that Carrick was ready. Mainoo and Carrick might have something else in common. Capello takes Carrick to task at Wembley Tuchel has started Mainoo once – in the March friendly defeat to Japan Credit: Getty 1 comment1