Sam Allardyce says Harry Maguire should consider rejecting England’s call for World Cup AFTER Thomas TuchelThe ‘harsh’ comments of Manchester United defender.
Maguire, 33, was included in Tuchel’s extended 35-man squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March.
Following Maguire’s withdrawal from England, Three Lions boss Tuchel said at the time: ‘Like I said, this is the last camp before the trip to the USA, so it’s also my last chance to get to know the new players, learn about them and see how they fit in.
“Harry is not a new player in the England shirt, of course, but he is new to me in this camp.
“I want to observe how he interacts with other players, see him on the field, understand what he is capable of and gather enough knowledge to make clear decisions.”
Tuchel was less praise for Maguire after England’s draw with Uruguay and said he was his fifth choice for the centre-back position heading into the World Cup.
Praising Maguire’s performance, Tuchel said: “I got exactly what I thought, solid, solid play with the centre-back.
‘That’s what he does. Very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and in the tackle.
“I haven’t changed my mind, but I see other players that I like to start for us, I see other players up front with a different profile.
“I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guehi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevoh Chalobah in terms of mobility was a bit ahead of him. Also John Stones, but he had injuries so he had to come to camp.
“I had to meet him in person to see how he behaves within the group. It will be interesting now to see how he operates within the group.
“Like I said, he has an advantage, of course, that he can also be super important in a tournament, in knock-out football, defending the lead and chasing a game with crosses and long shots and set pieces.”
Asked if Maguire would be in the England team if appointed then, Tuchel added: ‘If, if, if. We don’t need to name the squad tomorrow. He played a good game.
“He did what he does for Man Utd. 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.
“If I have to mention it tomorrow, we’ve got a lot of injuries, he could be in it. Who else would be there in the center of defence?’
Allardyce thought Tuchel’s comments were “a bit harsh” and says Maguire should “reassess” his availability for England ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
“It’s a bit harsh,” Allardyce said Footy Accumulators. “Harry endured such a difficult period at Manchester United when the club tried to belittle him – especially the manager at the time.
“He’s lost the captaincy, his place in the England team and he’s been criticized so much in recent years. He’s taken every bit of criticism on the chin and is proving everyone wrong.
“If I were in Harry’s position, I would reconsider going to the camp. Perhaps to his detriment, Harry has said that Tuchel’s comments would not cause any problems and it makes you wonder if he is very good!’
Meanwhile, former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand accused Tuchel of ‘insulting’ Maguire with his comments during the international break.
Should Tuchel take Maguire to the World Cup?
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Yes – his experience will be essential
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No – there are better options
“I think Harry Maguire will take it as an insult in a way,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
“He’ll sit there and think: ‘Wait a minute, I’m more than that’. In Tuchel’s eyes, he uses the word mobility. Other guys have more. I understand what he’s saying. Nobody has to agree with him.’
Maguire has made 66 appearances for England since making his international debut under Sir Gareth Southgate in 2017.
The center back will hope to be named in England provisional squad when announced on Monday, with the final list of 26 players heading Stateside to be revealed by May 30.
England are looking to win just their second World Cup this summer, starting their campaign in Group L against Croatia on June 17.
The Three Lions will then face Ghana and Panama as they look to progress to the knockout stages and ultimately win the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
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