Harry Maguire, the central defender for Manchester United, recently experienced a moment of great emotion. While preparing to board a flight to Bournemouth with his teammates, a message on WhatsApp turned out to be a turning point in his career. It was Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, requesting a conversation for that very night. Anxiety took hold of Maguire, who had not represented the national team for nearly two years, since a Nations League match against Ireland in 2024. For him, this conversation was crucial: “I knew that if I missed this camp, I don’t believe I would be back in the England squad,” he confessed.
Maguire, who has faced a season of ups and downs, admits that his form and physical condition have been affected under Ruben Amorim’s guidance. He felt limited by the three-defender tactical system, which did not allow him to fully explore his capabilities. However, the switch to the revamped team of Michael Carrick at Manchester United has reignited his hopes of participating in his third World Cup, now at the age of 33. Alongside young Kobbie Mainoo during the flight, Maguire shared his anticipation: “I asked Kobbie if he had also received a message, and he confirmed that he had.” Two hours after the initial message, Tuchel called to inform him that Maguire was back in the squad for the World Cup warm-up matches against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley.
The joy was uncontrollable. Maguire did not hesitate to call his family to share the good news. His mother, on holiday in Spain, could not hold back her tears, although the defender joked that the Sangrias might have contributed to her emotions. “It felt like my first call-up,” he said. “I have played over 60 games for England and participated in three major tournaments, but when you’re out, you miss the environment. When that is suddenly taken away from you, it hurts.”
Now, back at St George’s Park, the training center for the England national team, Maguire reflects on his journey. After seven years as a cornerstone of the defense under Gareth Southgate, he had to adapt to watching the team as a fan, returning to the days when he was a young player at Hull City watching the Euro 2016 from the stands. “It hurts to see England play, but I always want them to win,” he admits. “There are moments when you feel you should be in the squad, and that hurts a little more. But in the last three camps, I wasn’t fit, I wasn’t playing regularly for the Manchester United, and that affected my continuity.”
Maguire also does not hide the pain of having watched the Euro 2024 final, where England lost to Spain. “It hurt more when I saw the final,” he confesses.
Regarding his club performance, Maguire was focused on giving his best. Although he enjoyed the experience under Amorim, he felt that playing centrally in a three-man defense limited his abilities. “When you play in a five-man defense and you’re in the middle, people automatically think you can’t move like you used to. I’ve always said I prefer to play in a four-man defense. I feel I can be more aggressive and act more offensively, and that is a fundamental part of my game.”
With his call-up renewed, Harry Maguire is determined to prove that he still has much to offer to the national team and to secure his place in England’s history. The path to the World Cup is once again open, and he is not willing to let this opportunity slip away.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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