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England will head into the 2026 World Cup as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to lift the trophy for the first time since 1966.
The Three Lions will be a popular pick with sports bettors, despite their penchant for coming up short against the world’s top-ranked nations.
For fans planning to wager on the tournament, upcoming WC2026 football predictions will be available at TipsGG ahead of the big kick-off.
Their hopes of securing a winning return will be boosted if manager Thomas Tuchel recognises what Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo brings to the table.
Tuchel cannot afford to be negative this summer
Tuchel’s squad selection raised plenty of eyebrows, particularly in midfield, where several talented players were omitted from the 26-man line-up.
They include Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, whose skillset bears plenty of similarities to former United and England star Michael Carrick.
Tuchel has chosen Jordan Henderson ahead of Wharton, which is one of the most baffling decisions ever made by an England manager.
With Declan Rice and Eliott Anderson expected to be the first-choice midfield pairing, Henderson will spend most of the tournament sat on the bench.
Mainoo is also likely to be in the same boat, with Tuchel expected to plump for functionality rather than flair in the middle of the park.
However, as evidenced by United’s recent 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, a strong case can be made for suggesting that Mainoo should start alongside Rice.
The 21-year-old produced a polished performance against Forest, playing with the calmness and composure of a seasoned professional.
Much like Wharton, the United star always seemed to have extra time on the ball, and often left Forest’s midfield chasing shadows.
By contrast, Anderson ran around a lot, but rarely came close to matching Mainoo’s quality. He is a willing worker, but England need something different in midfield.
If Tuchel picks Rice and Anderson this summer, England will spend a fair proportion of the tournament passing the ball backwards and sideways.
Mainoo’s ability to control the tempo while performing progressive actions should put him head and shoulders above Anderson in Tuchel’s thinking.
The manager’s rotation comments are concerning
Tuchel’s comments about Mainoo when the squad announcement was made suggest that England are heading down the wrong road this summer.
“The squad has a significant number of players that will compete for starting minutes and starting places,” he said (h/t BBC Sport).
“This also gives us the chance to rotate on a high level and a significant number of players who carry the responsibility on the highest level.”
“We have a huge chunk of youthfulness in the squad. We have six players who have won titles with the under-21s.
“We have Kobbie, who is still young and has won his titles and we have Nico O’Reilly on top, who is young and already won his medals.”
Tuchel’s preference for midfield functionality will likely result in Mainoo starting on the bench.
However, having already shot himself in the foot by picking Henderson over Wharton, he will not guide England to the title by taking this approach.
Playing two functional midfielders at the World Cup is overkill, and will result in the Three Lions struggling to create chances in the final third.
Mainoo’s progressive nature makes him a natural fit alongside Rice, while Anderson should be used to provide more energy when England are trying to close out games.
If Rice and Anderson start regularly for the Three Lions in North America, progressing further than the round of 16 will be a tall order. |
