Harry Maguire has been described as a 'world class centre-back' by former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has admitted he was wrong to suggest the defender should not start for the Three Lions. Maguire has been a standout performer for England at the World Cup in Qatar, helping the side keep three clean sheets in four matches, including a 3-0 victory over Senegal in the last 16.
The Manchester United captain's form comes after a difficult period at club level, where he had been second choice to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane before a knee injury limited his game time. Maguire returned to action in late October after picking up the injury in England's 3-3 Nations League draw with Germany, a match in which he gave away a penalty and was at fault for another goal.
Despite calls for him to be dropped, England manager Gareth Southgate maintained faith in Maguire, stating he had 'never let his country down'. That trust has been rewarded as England prepare for a quarter-final clash with France on Saturday. Eriksson, who failed to guide England past the quarter-finals during the 'golden generation' of the 2000s, conceded his earlier doubts were misplaced.
'I'm very happy that Harry Maguire has proved me wrong when I said he shouldn't start,' Eriksson told Football Betting. 'He's proved again he's a very good international player once again. He missed some passes yesterday but on the whole he was very good. I'm happy that I was wrong and he's showing the world that he can be a very world class centre back.'
A win against France would see Maguire reach his third major international semi-final in four years, underscoring his importance to a England side that has replaced past pessimism with genuine hope and ambition under Southgate.
