Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo showed his class during England’s tricky last 16 Euro 2024 clash with Slovakia.

With England 1-0 down against Slovakia, it was Kobbie Mainoo who kept the Three Lions together for much of the game in Gelsenkirchen.

For 84 minutes, Mainoo was England’s liveliest player, the one most likely to make something happen.

His crisp passes, ability to take players on, and inventiveness kept England moving during a tense time in the game, with the team on the verge of elimination.

England went on to win the match 2-1 after extra-time, after Jude Bellingham had salvage a draw with an overhead kick in stoppage time.

Kobbie Mainoo has more to come

This was just Kobbie Mainoo’s first ever start at a major tournament, and he looked like he had been playing at this level for years.

Mainoo completed 96 per cent of his passes, showing a composure England needed against a sharp Slovakia team.

For most of the game, Mainoo was badly let down by his teammates. Bellingham had a poor match until his moment of magic. Phil Foden struggled too, while Kane only made his presence felt in extra-time.

Mainoo led the way, delivering a performance to be proud of. Posting to Instagram after the win, he wrote: “Not ready to go home yet. On to the quarters.”

Responses to Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo’s performance received widespread praise from watching fans and media, also his colleagues for club and country.

In the responses on social media, England stars Dean Henderson and Declan Rice were among those to show their appreciation.

Manchester United teammates Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri, away at the Copa America, also reached out, with the Uruguayan branding Mainoo ‘top’.

United academy striker Ethan Wheatley showed his admiration, labelling Mainoo ‘unreal’. All the responses can be viewed below.

Kobbie Mainoo and England now have a little time to rest ahead of the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, to be held on Saturday.

The Three Lions take on Switzerland, who knocked out Italy in the last 16. This will be even tougher than the Slovakia game.

Mainoo will surely keep his place and reproduce the same level of performance, but his England teammates must raise their games if the team are to progress further.

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