Rio Ferdinand says he will walk from Germany to England if Southgate benches this Manchester United star

England are in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024, but the performances have been underwhelming so far.

England boss Gareth Southgate is set to make changes ahead of the quarter-final clash with Switzerland.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has said Kobbie Mainoo ought to start, and threatened to walk from Germany if Mainoo doesn’t start.

The 19-year-old was taken to Germany following a breakthrough season at Manchester United, and Rio Ferdinand believes Kobbie Mainoo deserves to start.

Ferdinand wrote on X: “If Kobbie ain’t starting, I’m walking back from Germany! [He] has to…”

Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has also been impressed by Mainoo’s performances, but he has other ideas for England against Switzerland.

“I thought Kobbie Mainoo did very well,” Sheringham told Poker Sites.

“He’s very comfortable on the ball and had no problems at all.

“He’s a natural midfield player, which means it’s going to come naturally to him. I don’t like Trent Alexander-Arnold coming in there – I know he can find an unbelievable pass, but that’s not everything about playing in midfield.

“Mainoo looks a better fit for the role. Having said that, I actually would leave Mainoo out of the next game, to allow Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham to play in midfield together with Declan Rice behind him.

“I’d bring in Anthony Gordon at left wing just to give the team some sort of release to relieve pressure. He can run onto those balls over the top and get the defence thinking about something different.

“At the moment, everyone wants the ball to feet, which is making everything very tight and allows the opposition to come close to you. Gordon on the left would allow us to get in behind the defence more.

“I can see that benefitting Harry Kane too – if he drops to receive the ball, Gordon can make those runs to stretch the defence, and all of a sudden defenders won’t get as close to Kane anymore. That could be invaluable in the next few games.”