Harry Maguire Remains A Contender For England Squad Amid Tuchel's Tactical Changes

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Harry Maguire remains a potential choice for Thomas Tuchel's England squad, though the manager acknowledges Manchester United's back three formation complicates his selection. Maguire was not included in Tuchel's initial squad as England began their 2026 World Cup qualifying with wins over Albania and Latvia. Ezri Konsa started both matches, partnering Dan Burn against Albania and Marc Guehi versus Latvia.

Maguire has earned 64 caps for England and was a significant player under Gareth Southgate. Only Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Jordan Pickford, and John Stones were used more frequently by Southgate. However, Maguire missed Euro 2024 due to injury and was left out of two of the three squads chosen by interim manager Lee Carsley last year.

Despite being sidelined since March 2 with a calf injury, fitness wasn't the sole reason for Maguire's exclusion from the squad. Tuchel explained that he communicated directly with players not selected to provide feedback on his decisions. "It was a close decision," Tuchel stated. "We chose Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa at the moment."

Tuchel highlighted that Guehi and Konsa are currently in better form and rhythm, which influenced their selection. He also noted that starting two right-footed central defenders while others were left-footed played a role in his choices. Additionally, Maguire's fitness was uncertain during nominations.

Maguire has faced challenges at club level, with Manchester United sitting 13th in the Premier League, potentially heading for their worst finish ever. Since Ruben Amorim took charge last November, Maguire has consistently played as the central defender in a three-man defence.

Tuchel's shift from Southgate's 3-4-3 system to a 4-2-3-1 formation adds another layer of complexity to Maguire's situation. "Harry knows it's not easy for him at the club right now," Tuchel remarked. Despite these challenges, Tuchel praised Maguire as a top professional who remains crucial for England.

Upcoming Matches

Maguire demonstrated his professionalism by sending supportive messages to Tuchel despite not being selected. "He took it unbelievably well," Tuchel said. England will face Andorra in their next World Cup qualifier on June 7 before hosting Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground three days later.

Maguire's dedication to England is evident through his actions off the pitch. His commitment ensures he remains in contention for future selections despite current challenges at Manchester United.