Harry Maguire has been in really poor form for Manchester United this season but still, he has earned a call-up to the England squad.
Everyone was certain that Maguire would be dropped from the Three Lions squad due to his average performances but it looks like Gareth Southgate has chosen to stick with the central defender primarily since he’s never let him down.
“I don’t think it ever crossed our mind not to select Harry Maguire for this squad,” said Southgate, as quoted. “He’s been a key part of the starting XI that got us to a World Cup semi-final (in 2018) and a European Championship final (in July).
“You’ve got to look at who are our best players and the core of the team, and he is in that group. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s one of our best centre-backs and form in that sense is temporary.
2022 has not been kind to Harry Maguire 😫 pic.twitter.com/Daj83TMkB2
— GOAL (@goal) March 12, 2022
“Harry is now over 40 caps, a consistently strong performer for us and was through the autumn as well. Hopefully he can continue that form with us.”
Should Fikayo Tomori have been selected ahead of Harry Maguire?
Every manager has his favourite players so we can understand Maguire’s selection for the next two games but at the same time, it’s really unfair to Fikayo Tomori.
The former Chelsea player has revived his career with AC Milan and the way he’s played this season, the 24-year-old should have earned a national team call-up.
I’m totally convinced that Harry Maguire is man of the match every game……….for the opposition. pic.twitter.com/2CVLTO09RV
— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) March 16, 2022
Also, England’s two games during the international break are friendlies so this would have been the perfect opportunity for the manager to give Harry Maguire some rest and let him clear his head. He’s under massive pressure at his club which is why his national team manager should have helped him out.
With England, he will once again be under the scanner and if the Man United defender falters vs Switzerland and Ivory Coast as well then his season could take a massive nosedive.
Gareth Southgate clearly values Harry Maguire and hence he should have given the defender a break. Since he’s testing out younger players during this break, Fikayo Tomori would have been the ideal alternative.
