"Goodness me, what a footballer" - Gary Lineker and Micah Richards hail England star after Euro 2024 SF win
Former England stars Gary Lineker and Micah Richards has hailed Three Lions sensation Kobbie Mainoo after Gareth Southgate's side beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Wednesday (July 10) in Dortmund.
Mainoo is yet to make a goal contribution in five games but has impressed with his performances in the middle of the park for the Three Lions, who are into back-to-back Euro finals for the very first time.
Lineker said about the Manchester United teenager (via Football 365):
“I thought Mainoo was, again, he just bosses the place, he keeps the ball really well. Kobbie Mainoo, goodness me. Goodness me, what a footballer.”
Richards chimed in:
“It’s actually mindblowing,” Richards said. “I don’t want to go overboard but for someone who has not really been in the England setup, who was supposed to play the year before at Manchester United but got a bad injury so he came on the season later, his first couple of games I was thinking, ‘Wow, amazing’.
He continued:
“Ge carried on doing the same things, getting on the ball in areas where a lot of midfielders will shy away from it. He’s so elegant on the ball, he can drop his shoulder; he can drive forward, and he’s just so calm.
"He’s playing like he’s a 35-year-old veteran of the game! And he’s so young. He’s just been a real key part to that spark that England needed, not just in midfield, but the team needed in terms of adding the different dynamic.”
England face Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday (July 14).
What England star Kobbie Mainoo said after helping them to Euro 2024 final
England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is understandably ecstatic to help the team reach the Euro 2024 final in his first major-tournament appearance.
As per the aforementioned source, the 19-year-old said that the entire team is 'buzzing' following the thrilling come-from-behind win over the Oranje, with Ollie Watkins starring with a fine 90th-minute winner off the bench.
“It’s an indescribable feeling. It’s happened quickly, but I’ve just been taking it day by day, game by game, and, yes, now, we’re in the European Championship final," Mainoo said.
“We’re all buzzing, it’s been such a journey to get here. I feel like we’ve built on our performances that we’ve had leading to this point and I feel like the only way is up, time to put ourselves into history.
Can the Three Lions end a 58-year international trophy drought in the Euro 2024 final and deny Spain a record fourth European Championship title this weekend?