'We're ready to win': Maguire focused on England glory

Defender wants to seize big moments’ and says criticism is part and parcel of football’ before friendly against Brazil

- David Hytner

The problem for Harry Maguire- and it has coloured his situation for some time - is that T many supporters want the England team to be picked on club form. It is not how Gareth Southgate works, at least not entirely. The England manager places an emphasis on how his players have performed for him, on what he sees directly. The critics call it excessive loyalty. Southgate views it as basic logic.

Maguire's travails at Manchester United have been well documented. For him, 2022-23 was the lost season at club level when he started only eight Premier League games and slipped to the bottom of the central defensive pecking order, which was where he began the current campaign. In March 2022, he had heard his substitution in United's Champions League exit against Atlético Madrid cheered by a section of the Old Trafford support, which surely influenced the Wembley crowd in his next England match-the friendly against Ivory Coast. Some of those present booed him.

Southgate has always stood by Maguire, awarding him all 62 of his England caps, the first in the World Cup qualifier away to Lithuania in October 2017. Back then, Maguire had just moved from Hull to Leicester. Only Harry Kane, with 72, has won more caps under Southgate. It is no surprise to hear Maguire would like Southgate to continue in the role, all the more so if England fare well at Euro 2024. "If Gareth's the man to make us be successful then we want him to stay as long as possible," he says.