Unlocking England's Defensive Puzzle: Decoding Gareth Southgate's Strategy with Harry Maguire for Euro 2024

Why has Southgate stopped picking his England squad on form?

I posed this very question to Southgate during the previous England camp.

The England manager's current approach, wherein players like Maguire and Kalvin Phillips are chosen despite limited playing time at their respective clubs, is a concerning message. It conveys a negative signal to those players who are in exceptional form, both in the Premier League and other leagues.

They are doing all they can to force their way into the England squad but are being overlooked for Southgate's 'old reliables'.

However, I do totally understand Southgate's reasoning for this.

After assuming the role of permanent England manager in 2017, Southgate expressed his commitment to selecting players based on performance rather than reputation. However, during a previous interview in March, he appeared to backtrack on those remarks when questioned about the persistent inclusion of certain players who were not actively participating for their respective clubs.

Furthermore, Southgate stated that solely basing selections on form would result in frequent alterations to the squad during each international camp. He emphasized the importance of consistency, emphasizing that constantly changing the team would hinder the development of a cohesive and effective group leading up to the upcoming European Championship in Germany next summer.

Is it open season on Maguire? Will the booing stop...or is it now in fashion?

Is Maguire familiar with jeers?

"Scotland fans find it oddly amusing as they cheer for every pass made by Maguire, a situation that seems peculiar."

This has happened before. Just a week ago, Arsenal supporters cheered as Maguire stepped onto the field. According to Peter Smith's report, "Arsenal fans initially booed Rasmus Hojlund…but then they changed their tune and cheered when Maguire arrived! They even started chanting his name!"

Maguire is now a target of ridicule for fans supporting opposing teams, both at the club and national level.

Not only fans of opposing teams, but also Maguire faced jeers when his name was announced prior to England's match against Ivory Coast at Wembley in March 2022. This was repeated during the game against Germany later in the year.

These boos were also heard during club matches. As the captain of Manchester United at the time, Maguire was booed before the kick-off and throughout his team's pre-season victory over Crystal Palace in Melbourne in July. He experienced a similar reception in Dublin during Manchester United's friendly against Athletic Bilbao.

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The jeering of Harry Maguire was bizarre. It was loud, persistent, and something I have never seen in a football stadium before.

Rob Dorsett at Hampden Park, as reported by We News.

The 30-year-old has been facing a growing issue. What is perhaps most worrisome is that it has become a trend. Fashionable. Consistent. And possibly even unavoidable whenever he makes an appearance in the upcoming weeks.

Has Southgate inadvertently added to the pressure on Maguire?

England under Southgate: Maguire, a name that instantly comes to mind. Every single one of the defender's 59 international caps has been earned under the unwavering loyalty of Southgate.

But has that loyalty gone too far? Is Southgate now inadvertently helping to intensify the scrutiny upon his player?

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He has been an exceptional player for England in one of our most successful teams - crucial for our achievements.

Should we permit him to be exposed to that? It is simply ridiculous; a complete joke. It infuriates me. I have no issue with the Scotland fans - they are enjoying themselves.

But what stirs that up is people in our own country. Other players will think: 'Is that what awaits us?'

Gareth Southgate on Harry Maguire

Maguire doesn't receive as much attention at Manchester United as he would if he held a higher defensive position within the team. However, Southgate has a different perspective. To him, Maguire is an integral player on the team. Nonetheless, with the assurance of regular game time also comes the inevitability of constant examination and, in the event of poor performance, consistent criticism.

Maguire is not a subpar player. However, his significant decline in performance in recent years can undoubtedly be attributed to a continuously diminishing self-assurance. Nevertheless, the question arises of how he can regain this confidence if he is only given the chance to do so while wearing the jersey of the England team, and having to perform in front of a national audience, despite clearly lacking sharpness.

Undoubtedly, Maguire's determination to represent his country is commendable. Nevertheless, Southgate might need to consider allowing him to seek a revival of his form and confidence away from the intense scrutiny of international football.

Maguire's position could be untenable come the Euros

If Maguire’s claim to an England place seems tenuous now, it could be untenable by the time the Euros kick-off in the summer.

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Lewis Dunk impressed for England in their win over Scotland

Lewis Dunk and Marc Guehi surpassed Maguire in terms of performance during the recent international break, heightening the pressure on Maguire prior to the upcoming matches against Australia and Italy in October. The demand for Fikayo Tomori to be given an opportunity will undoubtedly grow as he maintains a prominent position in AC Milan's starting lineup. Additionally, Levi Colwill's potential as a consistent member of Chelsea's defensive line, particularly in the left centre-back position, will exert further pressure on Maguire.

Furthermore, the exclusion of John Stones from the England squad was attributed to his injury, and Ben White, who seems to be falling out of favor with the coaching staff, was also absent.

To put it simply, the idea that Maguire must play due to a lack of alternatives is incorrect. Southgate has a pool of other center-backs to select from, and the demand for him to explore these options is expected to grow.

Where does Maguire stand in the Man Utd pecking order? Could he yet revive his career at Old Trafford?

Despite the opportunity to rejuvenate his career, Maguire refrained from joining West Ham this summer due to reported difficulties in reaching a pay-off agreement with Manchester United. This potential transfer had initially held great promise, offering Maguire a chance to reestablish his talent that prompted United to spend £80m on him back in 2019.

The decision made by Maguire seemed unusual, considering that he began the season as the fourth or possibly fifth choice at center-back for Erik ten Hag, behind Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the main starters, Victor Lindelof, and even Luke Shaw, who played ahead of Maguire last season when injuries occurred.

Fortunately for Maguire, the presence of injuries might grant him a starting position against Brighton on Saturday. However, in order to move up the hierarchy of preferred players, he would need to deliver an almost flawless performance. Once United's injury crisis subsides, it appears unlikely that Maguire will be seen as anything more than a rotational option.

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Could a series of impressive performances alter this situation? Maybe. However, despite Ten Hag's praise for Maguire, there appears to be a discrepancy between the manager's words and actions.

If Maguire manages to regain his status at United this season and prove his critics wrong, it would be an incredible comeback. He doesn't deserve the criticism he receives from some sections of the United fanbase - both offline and online - but it's difficult not to feel that an opportunity was missed during the summer transfer period.