Kobbie Mainoo didn’t see the field once during the entire World Cup. Not a single minute. And now Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the reason isn’t just a tactical decision — it’s a back problem that flared up in England’s final training session before the bronze medal match against France.
Tuchel rotated heavily for that third-place game, which England won 6-4. It was the kind of low-stakes environment where you’d expect to see a young midfielder get some run. Mainoo was listed on the FIFA team sheet as injured, while Jordan Henderson — who broke his wrist in a freak incident after the last-16 win over Mexico — actually made the bench.
So what happened? According to Tuchel, Mainoo felt a sharp pain in his back during Friday morning’s practice and couldn’t go.
“Kobbie was injured in the last training session on Friday morning. He had a sharp pain in the back within the training and he was not ready to play,” Tuchel said Saturday.
A Summer Spent Watching
Mainoo’s absence throughout the tournament frustrated plenty of England supporters. He’d finished the Premier League season strong under Michael Carrick and looked sharp in pre-World Cup friendlies. But despite Declan Rice struggling at times, Mainoo never got the call.
His body language told its own story. Sources around the team noted he was often the first to leave the dressing room after matches, hood up, headphones on, heading straight for the team bus. He didn’t hide his frustration. He showed up for the France game in street clothes, but that was about the extent of his involvement.
Now United Holds Its Breath
Carrick and Manchester United have to be nervous here. Mainoo was supposed to be part of a revamped midfield heading into a season that includes a return to the Champions League. United brought in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos this summer for a combined £85 million, but Mainoo was expected to be a key piece too.
The club’s first preseason friendly wasn’t great either — a 1-0 loss to Wrexham on Saturday. Mainoo obviously didn’t play. He’ll get some time off before reporting back to Carrington, and United’s medical staff will be monitoring that back situation closely.
For a player who couldn’t get on the pitch in a tournament where England handed out minutes like candy in a consolation game, the injury timing couldn’t be worse. He’ll have something to prove when he’s healthy again.
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