Maguire’s World Cup Hopes Dim as Tuchel Ranks Him Fifth-Choice Centre-Back
The road to the World Cup appears to have hit a significant roadblock for England defender Harry Maguire, with national team manager Thomas Tuchel suggesting the Manchester United centre-back is currently no higher than fifth in the defensive pecking order. This comes despite Maguire’s solid performance in the recent 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay, where he featured for the second half as captain.
Maguire’s appearance against Uruguay marked his return to the national setup and, for many, a step towards solidifying his place on the plane to North America. He delivered a performance described as “commanding” and “polished,” traits that have often characterised his contributions for England. This display, his first under Tuchel’s management, seemed to bolster his World Cup prospects.
However, Tuchel, while acknowledging Maguire’s strengths, was unequivocal about his current standing within the squad. The German coach revealed that he views Maguire as being behind several other centre-backs, including Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, and the currently injured Trevoh Chalobah.
“I got exactly what I thought, solid, solid central defender play,” Tuchel commented on Maguire’s performance. “That’s what he does. Very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and a weapon for set-pieces.”
Despite these positive observations, Tuchel was firm in his assessment of the hierarchy. “I haven’t changed my mind, but I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile,” he explained. “I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guehi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevor 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.”
Tuchel also highlighted the importance of Maguire’s presence within the group dynamic. “I needed to meet him in person to see how he acts within the group. It will be interesting now to see how he acts within the group. He will stay with us.” He further elaborated on Maguire’s potential value in a tournament setting: “Like I said, he has an asset, of course, that he can also be super important in a tournament, in knockout football, in defending a lead and chasing a game with crosses and long throw-ins and set-pieces.”
When pressed on whether Maguire would make the squad if it were to be named imminently, Tuchel adopted a cautious approach. “If, if, if. We don’t need to name the squad tomorrow. He did a good game. He did what he does for Man United. He did it straight away. I’m very happy with him. To be honest, I haven’t changed my mind. I got everything I expected from him.” He then added a caveat: “If I have to name it tomorrow, we have a lot of injuries, he could be in it. Who else would be there in the centre of defence?”
The discussion around England’s defensive options also brought John Stones into focus. The Manchester City defender was unavailable for the Uruguay match due to a calf issue, an injury that has hampered his season. Stones has struggled to secure consistent game time for his club since November, featuring in only five matches.
Despite Stones’ lack of recent playing time, Tuchel indicated that he still holds the defender in high regard. He spoke of Stones having “credit in the bank” and described him as “world class.” When questioned about potentially making an exception for Stones given his limited minutes, Tuchel remained non-committal but acknowledged his unique qualities. “I don’t know yet, but if you come to the World Cup you should be fit,” he stated. “So when he came (to camp), he was fit. He did not have a lot of minutes, but he has a level of game understanding. So the exception of the rule means that he does not start a lot. I can see that because I’m a big fan and I know what he brings to the team in terms of personality, attitude and quality game understanding.”
The current situation for Maguire underscores the intense competition for defensive berths in the England squad. While his experience and leadership qualities are recognised, Tuchel’s clear ranking suggests that other players are currently favoured, leaving Maguire with a significant challenge to prove his worth and secure a World Cup spot. The coming months will undoubtedly be crucial for the defender as he seeks to overturn Tuchel’s assessment and force his way back into the manager’s primary plans.
