Ex-England Star Nicky Butt Tells Mainoo to Skip France Match, Demands Tuchel's Immediate Dismissal

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Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has urged Kobbie Mainoo to refuse to play in England’s FIFA World Cup third-place playoff against France.

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Butt also called on the Football Association to sack head coach Thomas Tuchel following the Three Lions’ semi-final defeat to Argentina.

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Mainoo earned a place in Tuchel’s final World Cup squad after impressing during the second half of the season at Manchester United under interim manager Michael Carrick.

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Despite his inclusion, the 21-year-old midfielder is yet to feature at the tournament, remaining an unused substitute throughout England’s campaign, which ended with a semi-final loss to Argentina on Wednesday.

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With Tuchel expected to rotate his squad for Saturday’s third-place match against France, Mainoo has been tipped to make his first appearance of the tournament.

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Butt, however, believes the midfielder should reject the opportunity, arguing that he has been unfairly overlooked throughout the competition, The Sun reports on Thursday.

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“I don’t know what’s going on there. Something isn’t quite right.

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“Now they’re going to play the bomb squad in the stupid third-place game.

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“If I were Kobbie Mainoo, I’d refuse to play. I’d say I was injured. It’s a meaningless game, especially after the way he’s been treated.

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“He’s not played a single minute, and now you’re asking him to start a pointless game and risk getting injured before the new season? No,” Butt said.

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The former England international also questioned Tuchel’s future, insisting the German should not remain in charge after England’s disappointing World Cup exit.

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According to Butt, the FA should consider Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe or United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino as possible replacements.

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He stated, “There’s no way Tuchel can stay after that.

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“If he stays, then John McDermott also has questions to answer.

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“You can’t keep him. He’s not someone like Sir Bobby Robson or Kevin Keegan, managers the country adored.

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“He’s come in and played negative football, extremely negative football, in a World Cup semi-final against an Argentina side that was there to be beaten.”

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