EXCLUSIVE: Ex Man Utd star calls for Kobbie Mainoo exclusion from England squad vs Serbia Euro 2024
Teddy Sheringham hasn’t included Man Utd’s Kobbie Mainoo in his preferred England XI for Euro 2024.
England start their Euro 2024 campaign vs Serbia. (Image: GETTY)
Teddy Sheringham has snubbed Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in his preferred England line-up ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia. The Red Devils icon has also questioned Gareth Southgate’s decision to opt against including two left-backs in his squad amid concerns over Luke Shaw’s fitness.
England start their latest Euros campaign as the tournament favourites in Gelsenkirchen, with games against Denmark and Slovenia to follow in Group C.
Southgate has publicly admitted that this international tournament will likely be his last if he can’t take the next step by guiding his ultra-talented generation of stars to glory.
It all starts against Serbia, a potentially tricky curtain-raiser, in which England will have to be massively improved from their 1-0 defeat to Iceland in their final warm-up match.
Kobbie Mainoo started that match at Wembley Stadium, but the 19-year-old is among three players Sheringham wants to drop out on Sunday.
“I think the team picks itself up front – most of it. Harry Kane would be in the lead role, Saka on the right,” Sheringham told Express Sport on behalf of TG Casino.
“And then I’d have Declan Rice in the midfield with Bellingham and Foden ahead of him. That would probably allow a bit of pace out wide.
“I would go for Anthony Gordon just to give you a bit of pace and balance down the left side.
Kobbie Mainoo may drop out of the England team. (Image: Getty)
“Walker right-back, Stones, it looks like Guehi will be the other centre-half, but I’ve not seen enough of him to comment on whether he’s England class or not.”
When selecting his final defender, Sheringham expressed his disbelief that Shaw was the only natural left-back to travel to Germany.
He namechecked Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell as a player who should have been frustrated to miss out on a spot in Southgate’s squad.
“And then if Shaw’s not fit, you’re going to go for Trippier. I can’t believe we can’t find another left-footed left-back in the country. It makes it a little bit disjointed, especially with Harry Maguire out of the equation.
“I bet Chilwell’s very, very disappointed not to be going when you can have 26 players going to the Euros.”
England may be tournament favourites but hosts Germany flexed their muscle on Friday night with a 5-1 demolition job on Scotland in Munich.
Julian Nagelsmann has defensive stability, technical quality in midfield and attacking class in the box at his disposal. It was undoubtedly a warning to the Three Lions, France, Portugal and other nations.
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