Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has expressed his shock and disappointment after being informed that he will not be part of England's squad for the upcoming World Cup. The 33-year-old defender, who enjoyed a resurgent second half of the Premier League season under Michael Carrick, helped United secure a third-place finish and a return to the Champions League.
Maguire's Statement
In an exclusive statement to talkSPORT, Maguire said: 'I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.' The defender had recently been recalled to the England squad for March's international friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, but reports suggest he will miss out on Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad for the World Cup, which is set to be announced on Friday morning.
Tuchel's Comments
Speaking in March, Tuchel made it clear that Maguire was not among his top choices for central defence. 'I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile,' Tuchel said. 'I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guehi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevoh Chalobah on the level of mobility was slightly ahead of him. Also John Stones, but he had injuries, so he needed to come to camp.'
England's Defensive Options
Konsa and Guehi are expected to be England's first-choice centre-back pairing this summer, with Stones likely to join them despite limited playing time at Manchester City. Dan Burn has been a regular in Tuchel's squads and offers versatility on the left side. Levi Colwill could also be in contention as a fourth-choice option, having recently returned from an ACL injury that kept him out for most of the season.
Maguire also missed out on Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2024, with his last major tournament appearance coming at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Despite his strong club form, the defender appears to have fallen down the pecking order under Tuchel.
