Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has predicted a fairytale Euro 2024 final for midfielder Kobbie Mainoo on Sunday.
Mainoo, 19, only made his England debut in March but has developed into a starter for his country at the Euros. He has yet to score for the Three Lions, but already has experience of scoring in a big game after netting as United beat Manchester City in May’s FA Cup final.
Rooney knows what it’s like to score at the Euros as a teenager, though his record as youngest scorer in the competition was broken by Johan Vonlanthen in 2004 and then bettered this year by Spain’s Lamine Yamal. Mainoo wasn’t even born when Rooney made his debut in the continental tournament, but has made a big impression ahead of England’s meeting with Spain in this year’s final.
“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 bringing in the United youngster, and referenced the FA Cup final when backing England to win. “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 come in for criticism at points in the tournament, winning just one of their group games and coming within a minute of elimination against Slovakia in the round of 16. They’re in a second successive Euros final, though, with Southgate emphasising the size of the moment.
“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.
