{"id":202961,"date":"2026-06-30T08:31:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T08:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/06\/30\/pick-mainoo-over-anderson-against-dr-congo-rooney\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T08:31:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T08:31:59","slug":"pick-mainoo-over-anderson-against-dr-congo-rooney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/06\/30\/pick-mainoo-over-anderson-against-dr-congo-rooney\/","title":{"rendered":"Pick Mainoo over Anderson against DR Congo – Rooney"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Former England captain Wayne Rooney says he would start Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo instead of Elliot Anderson in Wednesday’s World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo.<\/b><\/p>\n

Mainoo has not won a competitive cap for England since September 2024, having dropped out of the United team under former manager Ruben Amorim.<\/p>\n

However, under Michael Carrick the 21-year-old won his place back for United – then England – and played in his country’s past four friendlies, though failed to make it off the bench in the group games.<\/p>\n

Anderson, who is close to joining Manchester City from Nottingham Forest for a club record \u00a3116m, started all three matches in Group L.<\/p>\n

Rooney, while discussing the midfield he would pick on The Wayne Rooney Show, said: “I’d go with Declan Rice sitting, and I’d go with Mainoo and Jude Bellingham.<\/p>\n

“Mainoo can give you a bit of both, but in tight areas, that’s Mainoo’s biggest strength – his feet in tight areas, and then he has got a little pass. <\/p>\n

“I think he’s the only one who is capable of doing that in those tight areas.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The game kicks off at 17:00 BST and is live on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live.<\/p>\n

Former England striker Emile Heskey, speaking on the show, said he was surprised Tuchel turned to 36-year-old Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson and not Mainoo for the closing stages of the 2-0 group win over Panama.<\/p>\n

“I was surprised Jordan Henderson was in the squad,” said Heskey. “And to see out the game you bring on a 30-something-year-old and not a 20-something-year-old to do the same.<\/p>\n

“He probably has three more tournaments ahead of him and can grow into the tournament. I’m not sure how I’d feel as Kobbie Mainoo.”<\/p>\n

Speaking about the Panama game, Rooney said: “Against a team with a low block you can play Bellingham deeper. He’s a player with intensity, desire and drive.<\/p>\n

“Morgan Rogers is better suited with his back to goal than Bellingham. Against bigger teams you’ll see Jude in that position.”<\/p>\n

On Anderson’s potential record move and performances for England, Heskey said: “You have to look past the price tag. The beating stick is always going to be the price tag.”<\/p>\n

Rooney said: “He’s a fantastic player. <\/p>\n

“I’m gutted Manchester United didn’t get him but we’ve seen it when players go for big-money moves – like Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish to some extent – they [sometimes] don’t fit in.”<\/p>\n

Asked about Rice and Anderson playing as defensive midfielders, Rooney said: “In the Ghana game I don’t think it was needed.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former England captain Wayne Rooney says he would start Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo instead of Elliot Anderson in Wednesday’s World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo. Mainoo has not won a competitive cap for England since September 2024, having dropped out of the United team under former manager Ruben Amorim. However, under Michael Carrick […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-202961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPick Mainoo over Anderson against DR Congo - Rooney - Tahrir News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/06\/30\/pick-mainoo-over-anderson-against-dr-congo-rooney\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pick Mainoo over Anderson against DR Congo - Rooney\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Former England captain Wayne Rooney says he would start Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo instead of Elliot Anderson in Wednesday’s World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo. 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