Nicky Butt has warned Thomas Tuchel that Kobbie Mainoo could cost England in the World Cup semi-finals against Argentina.<\/p>\n
Mainoo <\/a>earned a spot on Tuchel\u2019s England squad for the World Cup after shining for Man Utd during the 2025\/26 run-in to earn Champions League qualification.<\/p>\n Despite this, Mainoo is one of England<\/a>\u2018s only outfield players to not play a single minute at the World Cup, with Tuchel instead favouring Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Reece James and Jordan Henderson.<\/p>\n This has been pretty harsh on Mainoo, but Man Utd legend Butt has explained why he does not want the midfielder to feature for England at the World Cup ahead of Wednesday\u2019s semi-final against Argentina.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems like it\u2019s anybody but Kobbie Mainoo for Thomas Tuchel at the minute,\u201d Butt said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast.<\/p>\n READ: Quarter-final vibe, reliance on Harry Kane, and other things we got wrong about England<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s bringing Reece James on who hasn\u2019t played for three weeks because of a hamstring injury. Only Tuchel will know why, I can\u2019t imagine Kobbie being a problem in the camp.<\/p>\n \u201cBut every manager has their favourites, of course they do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope Mainoo doesn\u2019t come on now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Butt added: \u201cDo you know something? I actually hope Kobbie Mainoo doesn\u2019t come on now.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he\u2019s probably so down, he\u2019s not played and he\u2019s not kicked a football in a real game. He\u2019s been training, obviously, but if he goes in now, the only thing he can do is bad.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not going to be at the level to go and play at that level in a semi-final. I hope he doesn\u2019t come on.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s anybody but Kobbie for Tuchel. He won\u2019t be the first one to go to a World Cup and not play a minute, there\u2019s a few players who have done that.\u201d<\/p>\n