Overnight World Cup buzz as Paul Scholes sparks Mainoo debate
England’s overnight World Cup drama set off a fresh selection storm as paul scholes warned Thomas Tuchel it would be “not fair” to throw Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo into the last-16 after he hasn’t played a minute so far. The debate matters because England’s next knockout test is against Mexico, and Tuchel’s midfield choices are under the microscope.
BBC Sport’s live coverage of the “reaction to overnight matches” framed a tournament full of talking points — from Mexico’s celebrations after reaching the last 16 to questions around England’s line-up and the sense this is becoming a World Cup of shocks. As England moved into the knockout stage, the conversation quickly turned from results to who should (and shouldn’t) play next.
That’s where Scholes stepped in. Speaking to Metro, the former England and Manchester United midfielder said Tuchel is unlikely to use Mainoo now — and argued it would be the wrong moment to do it anyway, given the lack of match minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Paul Scholes’ warning: He says it wouldn’t be “fair” to start Kobbie Mainoo now after weeks without playing.
- England’s midfield debate: BBC reporting says Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have been Tuchel’s preferred central starters.
- Fan and media pressure: A BBC Radio Manchester podcast called Mainoo’s lack of minutes “insulting,” especially with Jordan Henderson used ahead of him.
- Why it matters now: England’s next knockout match is against Mexico, raising the stakes of every selection call.
What happened in the overnight World Cup reaction?
On BBC Sport’s live “World Cup reaction to overnight matches” page, the focus was on the ripple effects of the latest games and the tournament mood: Mexico’s late-night celebrations after reaching the round of 16, star storylines elsewhere, and England’s looming knockout challenge. The live page also spotlighted the key question around Tuchel’s choices — including who he should start at right-back and what England should expect from DR Congo in the knockouts.
As that broader reaction rolled on, one specific England subplot started dominating: why Mainoo, a high-profile Manchester United midfielder, still hadn’t been used.
Why is paul scholes telling Tuchel not to play Mainoo?
In Metro’s report, Scholes said it would “probably be the wrong thing” to bring Mainoo in now, because he has been with the squad for “three or four weeks” without playing a game. Scholes added that it’s “not fair” to ask him to step straight into a high-stakes knockout situation after sitting unused.
Scholes also criticised England’s overall play and suggested Tuchel has overlooked flair options, naming Mainoo and Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze as the “two best footballers” available to him — while still arguing Mainoo shouldn’t be parachuted in at this stage.
What is the BBC Man Utd podcast saying about Mainoo’s minutes?
BBC Sport’s Manchester United podcast coverage reported that Mainoo has not featured for England at the 2026 World Cup, with Rice and Anderson emerging as Tuchel’s preferred central midfield pairing. On BBC Radio Manchester’s The Devils’ Advocate, host Gaz Drinkwater and guest Jay Motty branded the lack of minutes “insulting.”
They pointed to one moment in particular: Jordan Henderson being brought on ahead of Mainoo, which Drinkwater called “ridiculous.” Motty went further, saying the bigger insult was Mainoo not starting at all, and argued there were matches where England did not need two similar midfield profiles.
So what’s the top question fans want answered?
Will Tuchel change course for the last 16 against Mexico — or stick with the players he trusts most? Based on the reporting and reaction, the tension is clear: Scholes is effectively saying Mainoo has been mishandled by not being used earlier, but also shouldn’t be thrown in cold now.
For more Celebrity Breaking News, see our running coverage here: https://blasterpost.com/category/celebrity-breaking-news/. For the primary reaction feed and context, read BBC Sport’s live page: World Cup reaction to overnight matches.