England manager Thomas Tuchel has expressed surprise at Harry Maguire's emotional public reaction to being omitted from the World Cup squad. On the eve of Tuchel announcing his 26-man selection for this summer's tournament, the furious Manchester United defender vented his frustration, stating he was 'shocked and gutted' by the decision.
Maguire's Outburst and Family Reaction
The 33-year-old's mother, Zoe, also weighed in, calling the decision 'disgraceful' and expressing her absolute disgust. Maguire, who has earned 66 caps for England, was a key figure in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns under former manager Gareth Southgate. However, he did not feature in any of the qualifying matches for the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, though he played in March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Tuchel's Response
During Friday's squad announcement at Wembley, Tuchel addressed the situation: 'I was a bit surprised by Maguire's statement, but I respect his personality and quality greatly. He had an outstanding season. I can see his disappointment and the reasons behind it. Still, I was surprised because we had a private conversation where he had the chance to express his feelings, which he did. That is fair enough, as I understand why he could have been in the squad.'
Maguire took to Instagram on Thursday to express his dismay: 'I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.'
Squad Selection
Tuchel's chosen centre-back options include Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, and John Stones. Explaining his decision, Tuchel said: 'We stood firmly with our central defenders who carried us through September, October, and November. Some of them are part of a leadership group that took ownership and set high standards. It was a decision for these 26 players, even if it feels like it’s against individuals.'
