Scholes Critiques Tuchel for Mainoo's World Cup Absence

Paul Scholes, a former England midfielder, expressed his disappointment regarding Thomas Tuchel's decision not to play Manchester United midfielder Kobbi Mainoo during England's World Cup 2026 campaign. Scholes highlighted that Mainoo did not feature in England's last 16 match against Mexico, which took place at the renowned Azteca Stadium.

He criticized Tuchel for what he deemed a "complete disregard" for Mainoo, especially in light of the player's talent and potential contributions to the team. Scholes also compared Mainoo's situation to that of Eberechi Eze, suggesting that both players deserved more playing time.

He questioned why Tuchel included Mainoo in the World Cup squad if he was not going to utilize him, stating that it was unfair for Mainoo to be sidelined for three to four weeks without playing. England had previously secured a victory against DR Congo, with Harry Kane scoring two late goals to propel the team into the knockout stage.