- Gallagher was picked as the replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold for the tie
- He was taken off at the interval, however, with Mainoo impressing in his place
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! Playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield was a ‘progressive move but regrettably it didn’t work’
Fans praised Kobbie Mainoo for his impact after coming on at half time of England’s draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate‘s side put in another tepid performace in the first half of the match in Cologne, failing to improve on their showing against Denmark that received widespread criticism.
For the game, Southgate made one change to the team, with Conor Gallagher replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, but the Chelsea man only lasted half-an-hour before being replaced by Mainoo.
It was a move that was praised by fans, with many questioning why Gallagher was the man to replace the Liverpool defender-turned-midfielder.
The Manchester United man received a number of plaudits on X (formerly Twitter) for his impact on the game as England chased the win that would guarantee them top spot in Group C.
‘It’s taken 5 mins for Kobbie Mainoo to remind everyone that Gareth Southgate is clueless,’ one fan posted. ‘Pointless not playing him from the start of the first game.’
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Another wrote: ‘3min in and Kobbie Mainoo has done more than any England central midfielder has done in the Euro.’
A third posted: ‘Mainoo has made England a functional side.. who would’ve THOUGHT.’
Southgate admitted that he had been trying to find a solution to his side’s midfield problems for a number of years, namechecking Kalvin Phillips as a player England didn’t have a natural replacement for.
It appears he is still searching for a solution, with Gallagher the man to replace Alexander-Arnold and Mainoo then being introduced for the Chelsea man at the interval.
‘Instant impact from Mainoo,’ one fan added on X.
Mainoo showed that why he’s the reason on why he has to start in our England midfield for Sunday alongside Rice so Southgate better start Mainoo in that Midfield,’ added another.
‘Me and Cole [Palmer] are ready when we’re called upon like the rest of the lads are,’ Mainoo said after the game. ‘We train hard and when we get our chance we try to impress so we can start and help the team as much as possible.
‘I love football and I love playing so anyone’s who’s on the pitch wants to play.
‘They sat deep and they were a good side on the ball but I feel like we have the quality to break these teams down as the quality increases in the next rounds.’