This is why he is better than every other midfielder in that England squad including Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmar. Only world class players plays like him. He has everything to be the England captain one day”- Fans left in shock as Kobbie Mainoo left a mark in the team after a world-class performance that left everyone comparing him to Jude Bellingham

Kobbie Mainoo insists that England’s confidence remains intact despite their “humbling” defeat to Iceland at Wembley last night.

The Three Lions had hoped to deliver a strong performance in their final match before embarking on their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia next Sunday. Instead, Gareth Southgate’s team produced a lackluster display, drawing boos from the crowd at the final whistle.

When asked if the team’s morale had been affected by the disappointing loss, teenager Mainoo, who played the full 90 minutes, was quick to dismiss any concerns.

“Not at all! We know the quality we have in the changing room, and now we just have to show the fans we’re good enough and can compete in Germany. I think going into a tournament after a loss can be a good thing. We’ve got a point to prove to ourselves because we know we’re better than that and play much better football. It was humbling, and we have to come together now. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder and must come together with the motivation to prove a point in that first game. If we’re not winning, we’re learning. Any chance to learn is a good opportunity, and it’s better now than in nine days.”

Southgate acknowledged that the defeat was not the ideal preparation for a major tournament but emphasized that there was no reason to panic ahead of England’s opening game in Gelsenkirchen in just over a week.

“You’d like a good performance, an entertained crowd, and to be leaving on a high,” Southgate said after the send-off friendly. “Clearly, the performance wasn’t at the level it needed to be. There are some very clear reasons for that, and it actually gives us a chance to really focus because these last games before tournaments can be scrappy due to players worrying about injuries.

“The most disappointing part tonight was our pressing. We didn’t press well and were too stretched. In the last two or three games, we’ve been excellent at that, so that’s something we need to rectify. With the ball, we could have been better, but we still created some very good chances. Many players needed the minutes – those coming back from injury and those out of rhythm due to a break.

“At the end, where you ideally want experienced players to keep calm and work back into the game, we had to take them off to protect them. It was a far from ideal night. I won’t downplay the disappointment about the performance, but we need to stay calm. We know what needs to be put right, and we’ll work on that between now and the game with Serbia.”

Kobbie Mainoo and England manager Gareth Southgate have both stressed that the team’s confidence remains intact despite a disappointing defeat to Iceland at Wembley in their final pre-Euro 2024 match. Mainoo, who played the full 90 minutes, highlighted the team’s belief in their quality and viewed the loss as a learning opportunity, while Southgate acknowledged the need for improvement but urged calm and focus ahead of their tournament opener against Serbia. The defeat, which drew boos from the crowd, served as a humbling reminder of the work required to succeed in Germany.