Kobbie Mainoo’s absence from Thomas Tuchel’s starting selections during the 2026 World Cup has raised eyebrows, with former England striker Michael Owen sharing with GOAL why the Manchester United midfielder may still find himself in a Geoff Hurst-like role for the Three Lions. The 21-year-old continues to wait for his opportunity at FIFA’s premier competition, but football history has shown that “unlikely heroes” often emerge on the biggest stage.
Back in 1966, England captured their one and only World Cup title on home turf, and it was Geoff Hurst who etched his name into football folklore with a historic hat-trick against West Germany at Wembley Stadium. Hurst had originally been behind the prolific Jimmy Greaves in the forward hierarchy, but an unfortunate injury for Greaves opened the door for Hurst to seize his chance. His performance that day has since become legendary, with fans even invading the pitch before the final whistle confirmed England’s triumph. Hurst, a West Ham United icon, remains an inspiration for generations of English players who have since aspired to replicate that success.
As for Mainoo, he has yet to log any minutes at the 2026 World Cup. England are now preparing for a semi-final showdown against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, but it remains uncertain whether the Manchester United starlet will feature. His last appearance came in a pre-tournament friendly against Costa Rica on June 10. Tuchel has preferred other midfield options from the bench, often deploying players in unfamiliar roles, prompting fans to question—sometimes humorously—why the young midfielder has been overlooked by his national coach.
When asked about Mainoo’s situation, Owen—serving as the UK ambassador for Casino.org, a platform known for helping users compare trusted British online casino brands—told GOAL: “I do feel for him a bit, because I think he definitely has the ability to play an important part in this World Cup. And who knows? Things can change, and you might get unlikely heroes.”
Owen continued: “Our greatest footballing moment came when we won the World Cup, and who would have predicted Geoff Hurst would even be playing? Jimmy Greaves was phenomenal—my dad always says he was the best England ever had. But events unfolded, and suddenly Hurst played, and the rest is history.”
He added: “There could still be a surprise, and that surprise might just be Mainoo. You can’t switch off at this level. Honestly, if we had been knocked out already, there would have been a massive inquest. England should be in a class of their own. We’ve been talking as if Mexico was the toughest test ever, but really, if we played Norway on neutral ground, say in Spain, people would expect us to win two or three nil. Based on that, we should be beating every team we’ve faced.”
“Now comes the real test against Argentina. This one’s a genuine contest—a toss of a coin. It’s going to challenge us, but everything up to now has gone as expected for England. If we’re going to lift the trophy, there will be plenty of twists, turns, and unexpected heroes. Mainoo could very well be one of them.”
England’s next challenge will see them face Messi and Argentina in the semi-final, as the Three Lions continue their pursuit of another iconic “hero.” So far, captain Harry Kane and star midfielder Jude Bellingham have led the way with six goals each. But more moments of brilliance will be needed if England are to reach the final—and someone will have to keep close tabs on eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi. For Mainoo, this could yet turn into a “better late than never” story for the talented Manchester United academy graduate.
