The Manchester United defender was a surprise omission from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup, with family members far from pleased with the decision
Harry Maguire reacts
Harry Maguire has shown his class on social media (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
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Harry Maguire has wished England well before their titanic World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The Manchester United centre-back was a shock omission from Thomas Tuchel's squad for this summer's tournament in North America.
The defender was a key player under Reds Devils head coach Michael Carrick last term. The 33-year-old excelled in a side that lost just twice in the Premier League after January.
United finished third in the top flight and will play Champions League football next season for the first time since 2023. But Maguire's performances at Old Trafford were not rewarded on the international stage - leading to public outrage from some of his family, including his mum, who said she was 'absolutely disgusted' by Tuchel's decision.
The former Leicester City and Hull player has since worked as a pundit on Gary Lineker's Netflix show, The Rest is Football, during the World Cup. It will have hurt Maguire to see the Three Lions squad he could have been a part of reach the last four of football's biggest tournament without him.
Nevertheless, Maguire has shown his class on social media just hours before England kick off one of their biggest games in a generation. Posting on his Instagram stories - the Englishman sent a good luck message.
He said: "All the best lads," alongside an England flag and love heart emoji. Maguire has previously admitted to speaking to a few members of the England squad before wishing them all the best this summer.
Harry Maguire has sent his best wishes to the Three Lions
Harry Maguire has sent his best wishes to the Three Lions(Image: harrymaguire9 on Instagram)
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The Red Devils star revealed on the Rest is Football that Tuchel informed him and other snubbed England players they had missed out on his World Cup squad over Facetime. The former Sheffield United star also admits to having "had words" with the Three Lions boss after his decision.
The Yorkshireman said: "It was a surprise. I said straight away it was a surprise. I was really disappointed, and I thought I'd done enough to make the squad and help the lads out there. I thought I still had a part to play on the pitch and off the pitch. I was disappointed at the time, but the manager has made his decision, and he’s gone with the 26. It’s part of football, and I’ll move on quickly from it.
"He speaks to everyone to be fair. He FaceTimes everyone, so it’s quite an awkward call. I received a text around nine or ten o’clock in the morning just saying ‘can I speak to you today at 4 o’clock?' I think Kobbie received the same text, Luke [Shaw] as well. He FaceTimes everybody, and it’s quite a unique way to do it. It’s probably harder for him to see our reactions and things like that.
"He really said he can’t give me an excuse but that he’s gone with the four lads that got him through the qualifying in the autumn camps. He felt they did well during those six games, but he said he can’t really give me an excuse. Listen, that’s football. It was tough to take, and I did think I was going to be in the squad after the March camp, and being selected for the first time under him.
"I felt I did well in both of the games and then went back to Manchester United and finished the season strong. I thought I did enough to be in the squad, but as I said, he’s made that decision. He’s gone with the squad, and it’s a strong squad.
"I was shocked more than anything. We had a few words. I’m quite a big personality, I’m experienced, but I think it was an honest conversation between us both. I was really disappointed. I wanted to go to the World Cup and play.
"I’m 33 now, 37 at the next World Cup looks far away. I wanted to go, not just play, but I told the manager I wasn’t demanding that I start the games. I would have been happy playing one minute as long as I was there with the lads. It was disappointing."
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