Rio Ferdinand names the one England player that MUST start against Switzerland at Euro 2024 and jokes he will ‘walk home’ if Gareth Southgate doesn’t play them
- Gareth Southgate tipped to make changes for quarter-final
- But Rio Ferdinand has picked one player who he believes should start the match
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Rio Ferdinand has called on Gareth Southgate to start Kobbie Mainoo against Switzerland at Euro 2024, joking he will ‘walk home’ if he doesn’t play.
Boss Southgate is widely expected to make changes ahead of this weekend’s quarter-final, switching to a three-man defensive line.
The Three Lions topped Group C with five points but produced three disappointing performances, beating Serbia 1-0 and drawing with Denmark and Slovenia.
They then teetered on the brink of a surprise knockout in the last 16 when Jude Bellingham rescued them with a stunning equaliser in the last 16 against Slovakia, with Harry Kane scoring the winning goal.
Southgate may therefore be tempted to rip up the script in a bid to improve his team’s performances, but Ferdinand is adamant that Mainoo must keep his place.
Rio Ferdinand is adamant Kobbie Mainoo should start for England against Switzerland
Gareth Southgate likely to make changes for Euro 2024 quarter-finals
Ferdinand wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘If Kobbie doesn’t start, I’ll walk back from Germany!’ [He] must…’
Mainoo, 19, made a stunning breakthrough at Manchester United last season, surprisingly earning a place in Southgate’s 26-man squad.
He came on as a substitute against Serbia and Slovenia and was immediately cleared to start last weekend, earning praise from United legend Roy Keane.
“Look at the things he does. I’ve played in that position but he does things that probably took me 10 years to learn,” Keane told ITV.
‘He’s obviously got a good base at Man United and he’s developing good habits, but we’ve seen in these big games – and when you play for Man United, every game is a big game for Man United, so he’ll be able to deal with all those things.’
Ferdinand joked that he would ‘walk home’ if Southgate left Mainoo out of his starting XI
Mainoo was named in Southgate’s 26-man squad after a fantastic season at Manchester United
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher were initially trialled alongside Declan Rice in a dual midfield position, with the former seen as an ‘experiment’ by Southgate playing in a deeper position for the opening two group games.
However, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa are now expected to form a defence of three or five players, supported by Rice and Mainoo.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka could play as wingbacks, while Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham will play as number 10s behind Harry Kane.
England have often used a five-man defensive formation at major tournaments under Southgate and are likely to revert to that formation for tomorrow’s match.
Marc Guehi is the only one absent from the Three Lions due to suspension.