Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has predicted a fairytale Euro 2024 final for midfielder Kobbie Mainoo on Sunday against Spain in Berlin.
Mainoo, 19, only made his England debut in March but has become a regular starter for his country at the Euros.
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Although he hasn’t yet scored for the Three Lions, he has experience in significant matches, having scored in United’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May.
Rooney once held the record as the youngest scorer in the competition, which was broken by Johan Vonlanthen in 2004 and surpassed this year by Spain’s Lamine Yamal.
“I just have a feeling about Mainoo,” Rooney told The Times. “That he is going to score and prove decisive.
“If you think of him in the tournament, he has got into good positions going forward and I think Spain will do their homework and close off space for Harry Kane, Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham. But that will leave space for a midfielder arriving late, and that Mainoo will get one from a cut-back.”
Rooney also praised manager Gareth Southgate for introducing the United youngster and mentioned the FA Cup final while supporting England’s chances of winning. “It was Mainoo who did it and then, when Manchester United had the ball, ran off Rodri and scored. He was man of the match,” he added.
England have faced criticism at times during the tournament, having won only one of their group matches and nearly being knocked out by Slovakia in the round of 16. However, they have reached a second consecutive Euros final, with Southgate emphasizing the importance of this achievement.
“We live in an angry country and I’d love that to be different as we move forward and hopefully we can bring some temporary happiness,” he said. “But we’re not going to change our country either. But hopefully we can deliver some good examples.
“We’ve changed how English football is perceived around the world. There’s still some questions to answer on that until we win. In the end people will still question that final bit and I understand that.
“All of those things matter. But of course for Sunday none of them matter as much as winning the game.”
