Wayne Rooney’s Bold Prediction: England to Win Euro 2024 with Unlikely Hero
Published 15:59 14 Jul 2024 GMT+1
Wayne Rooney has made a shocking prediction ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain, backing 18-year-old Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to score the winner.
England’s dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the semi-final has set up a mouth-watering clash with Spain in Berlin on Sunday evening. While the bookies have Spain as slight favourites, Rooney is convinced that Gareth Southgate’s side can pull off a surprise victory.
"I just have a feeling about Mainoo," Rooney told the Times. "He’s going to score and prove decisive. If you think of him in the tournament, he’s 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."
Rooney drew parallels with Mainoo’s impact on the FA Cup final in May, where the teenager scored the winner in Manchester United’s 4-0 victory over Newcastle United.
"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," Rooney said.
Declan Rice, Mainoo’s midfield partner, echoed Rooney’s sentiments, saying: "I don’t want to jinx anything because I feel like we’ve done that in the World Cup and the last Euros. When things don’t go your way, you end up thinking: ‘Why did we speak about things before they even happen?’ One more game, then we can talk about silly haircuts and tattoos."
Rice added: "We had a meeting at St George’s Park and he put up special moments: when England won the Ashes, won the Rugby World Cup, how everyone gathered round in London. There were pictures of what it would be like, just to get that feel of how we could impact a nation."
Will Mainoo be the hero England needs to win the Euro 2024 final? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – this young midfielder has already made a big impact on the tournament.
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