Wayne Rooney has predicted Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will score the winner for England in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
The Three Lions are one game away from ending 58 years of hurt and lifting their first European Championship trophy as they prepare to face Spain in the Euros final in Germany.
Gareth Southgate’s side were the pre-tournament favourites but confidence waned during an underwhelming group stage in which England failed to beat Denmark and Slovenia.
England also struggled against Slovakia in their first knockout game and were moments away from an embarrassing and premature exit before Jude Bellingham scored in injury-time and Harry Kane in extra-time to turn the tie around.
The Three Lions then beat Switzerland on penalties and scored another late goal to knock out Netherlands in the semi-finals and reach back-to-back European Championship finals under Southgate.
Spain will undoubtedly by England’s toughest test so far, with Luis de la Fuente’s side winning all six of their matches on route to the Euro 2024 final, including victories over hosts Germany and World Cup finalists France.
Despite Spain’s red-hot form, Rooney ‘has a feeling’ that England will win the Euros and has backed Mainoo to continue his extraordinary rise by scoring the winner.
‘I just have a feeling about Mainoo and the final. That he is going to score and prove decisive,’ Rooney told The Times.
‘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.
‘Who will win? Well, it will be a very interesting game to watch and one that could go either way. Spain are in form and play at a very high tempo, which could be difficult for England.
‘There is a big job on for Gareth’s midfielders, to make sure they get round Rodri and don’t let him start running the show.
‘But remember the FA Cup final? 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.
‘So that’s why I’ve just got a feeling. That Mainoo will make the difference in Berlin.
‘It’s a brilliant final and, I hope I’m right in this prediction, England will do it. We will just about have too much for Spain.’
Mainoo was benched for England’s three group games but has started in every knockout match and Rooney believes he has made a real ‘difference’ to the team.
The 19-year-old was selected in England’s Euros squad after enjoying a breakthrough for boyhood club Manchester United.
‘Mainoo has made a big difference,’ Rooney added. ‘He takes the ball and he is able to keep it in tight spaces in the opposition half.
‘He’s brave. He gets forward at the right times but even more importantly, as he demonstrated in the semi-final against the Netherlands, he has the ability to do important work out of possession.
‘Against the Dutch he stopped four or five counterattacks, and when they played cut-backs he was in the right position to clear the ball as well.
‘He really understands the game. He’s always in the right position and he doesn’t just stay in the middle of the pitch. In possession he goes forward or wide and creates overloads.
‘His relationship with Phil Foden has been important. They play off each other and have the same bravery to take the ball. They understand each other’s movements – when Phil drops in, Kobbie will run off him and go forward.’
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