Is Thomas Tuchel being unfair to Harry Maguire?

Comments from England manager Thomas Tuchel regarding Harry Maguire have raised questions: is he evaluating the Manchester United defender unfairly?

Maguire deserves more respect

In the 97th minute at Wembley, Maguire made a crucial block right in front of the goal, preserving the 1-1 draw against Uruguay. In a friendly match, such a moment might not be critical, but in the World Cup, it could absolutely be a decisive moment – determining whether to advance or be eliminated.

In fact, even before that play, Maguire had been England's standout performer in that match. The last-minute save was just a perfect "final touch" to his performance. It was a display sufficient to compete for a starting spot, or at least a secure place in the squad.

However, just one hour after the match, Tuchel surprised everyone by stating that Maguire is not among his priority group. According to the German strategist, this defender ranks behind at least four, or even five other options, including Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah – who has only made one appearance for England, in the defeat against Senegal.

This is puzzling to observers. Because England currently faces defensive issues: lack of experience, lack of stability, and many players not performing at a high level. Meanwhile, Maguire is meeting all three of these factors well.

Nevertheless, Maguire's opportunity still largely depends on the situation of his competitors. Some names are dealing with injuries, like Chalobah or John Stones, who is also highly rated by Tuchel but doesn't regularly play for Manchester City due to fitness issues.

Meanwhile, placing Marc Guehi (1.82m) and Ezri Konsa (1.83m) above Maguire is understandable, as they are performing well and playing consistently in the Premier League. However, Maguire's strengths in physique and power (1.94m) are factors these two players lack, and could complement each other when playing as a center-back pair.

Another case is Dan Burn – a player favored by Tuchel and likely to be included in the World Cup squad as a backup. However, considering experience and starting capability, Maguire clearly edges ahead with 60 appearances for England, including 17 matches in major tournaments.

At 33, Maguire is no longer a "physical gamble" as he was before EURO 2024. If he maintains stable form and avoids injury while playing for Manchester United – the team currently third in the Premier League – then his exclusion from the top five center-backs selected for the World Cup would be very difficult to explain.

Another factor supporting Maguire is his physical state. While Guehi, Konsa, and Burn require rest due to overload, Maguire has only started 15 matches for Manchester United this season, mostly occurring after the team changed managers from Ruben Amorim to Michael Carrick. This gives him a solid fitness foundation and sharp reflexes, as demonstrated against Uruguay.

The story here is not about Maguire's long-term future at Manchester United, but his current form. And it must be acknowledged that this defender is "peaking" very timely ahead of the World Cup.

Those present at Wembley could clearly see Maguire's desire to perform – something not every England player displayed in that match. Tuchel himself does not deny Maguire's capabilities. He values this defender's aerial ability, ball handling, and composure. The only issue is, if all players are healthy, Maguire still ranks behind several other names in the priority order.

Maguire's career has rarely gone smoothly. Most recently, the red card against Bournemouth – occurring just hours after his recall to the national team. Maguire himself admits it was a rather harsh decision.

Nevertheless, he is still regarded as a professional player, a good teammate – a factor Tuchel highly values. In the context of the World Cup in North America, which promises physical rigor and pressure, experienced players who keep a cool head like Maguire, Jordan Henderson, or Harry Kane will play crucial roles in the dressing room.

Maguire will still feature in the friendly against Japan – the final match before Tuchel finalizes the World Cup squad in May. Will he be selected? At this point, the answer seems no longer in Maguire's hands. He has performed well enough to prove his worth. And if he is not in the final list, it will certainly be a cause for much regret.