During the press conference, Tuchel addressed the Maguire situation. “I was surprised to read Maguire’s statement [saying he was shocked]. We had a private conversation and he had the chance to express his feelings. The decision is we stuck with the central defenders who carried us through the autumn”.

Whether fans agree or not with Maguire not getting called, the reality is Tuchel turned the tables on the defender. Also, he gave the explanation, Maguire wasn’t a part of the core that’s been recently selected.

Which defenders will go to the 2026 World Cup for England

The defenders that Tuchel called to play the 2026 World Cup feature Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, and Djed Spence.

It is a very young, new squad. Many of the players called are new to the scene and haven’t played in a World Cup yet. Still, it’s what Tuchel thinks he needs to get England their second World Cup in history.

Other notable omissions in England’s 2026 World Cup squad

Big-time names like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Fikayo Tomori, Luke Shaw, Lewis Hall, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, and Alex Scott won’t play in the World Cup. Arguably many of them should’ve made the list.

Now Tuchel is under a lot of pressure. If he fails to deliver, his job might be in jeopardy. Many will point to his 26-man list as the reason England failed. The German manager must bring the title home for the Three Lions… or else.

“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,“ Maguire revealed on his social media accounts. “I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer.”

Following Tuchel‘s stunning decision, anticipation is building over which players will make the final cut for England’s World Cup squad in North America. The decision raises eyebrows across the landscape, as several out-of-form players remain in contention for a call-up despite Maguire already being cast aside.

Stars like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have both endured sluggish club campaigns, leaving genuine uncertainty about whether Tuchel will count on them for the tournament. Meanwhile, rivals are already locking in their squads, with Germany recently dropping their 26-man roster anchored by veteran keeper Manuel Neuer.

What to expect from Tuchel’s 26-man roster

According to The Guardian, while a core group of players have already secured their ticket to the World Cup, a handful of bubble candidates will have to wait until Friday morning to find out if their names are on the plane.

The British media outlet revealed that pillars such as Jude Bellingham, Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and captain Harry Kane are locked in to lead the Three Lions under Tuchel’s guidance.

Conversely, several high-profile names are still sweating on a roster spot. Along with the aforementioned struggles of Palmer and Foden, players like Reece James, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke remain on the bubble despite flashing elite potential in the Premier League over the past season.

When will Tuchel announce the 26-man roster?

According to England‘s media relations team, Thomas Tuchel will host a press conference on Friday, May 22 at 9:45 a.m. local time (4:45 a.m. ET). The FA will distribute the official roster across their digital and social media platforms before Tuchel takes questions from the press.

Despite enduring peaks and valleys, Harry Maguire remains a stalwart fixture in England‘s squad selections, featuring prominently in qualifiers and pivotal tournaments like the World Cup, Nations League, and the Euros.

His towering presence at 1.94 meters (6′ 4″) underscores his prowess in aerial duels, solidifying his role as an irreplaceable defensive cornerstone and a linchpin of England’s recent campaigns. For that reason, his absence in the championship clash against Spain is completely unexpected.

Harry Maguire out of the Euro final game against Spain

Shortly before the Euro kicked off, Maguire took to his social media platforms with a heartfelt update: “Despite my best efforts, I haven’t been able to recover from my calf injury. Maybe I pushed myself too far to try and make it. Simply put, I am absolutely devastated.”

This setback not only sidelined the Manchester United player for the final game against Spain but also dashed his hopes of participating in his second Euro. Maguire’s absence loomed large, depriving him of a pivotal role in the tournament and denying Manchester United fans and England supporters alike the chance to witness his defensive prowess on the competition.

Last edition narrowly escaped them when they lost to Italy from the penalty shootout by 3-2. Harry Maguire was one of the players to score a penalty kick in that match but surprisingly will not be present in this edition.

Despite having been part of the 33-player pre-roster for Euro 2024, coach Gareth Southgate finally decided to leave him aside along with other big names such as Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling among others.

Harry Maguire out of the match against Slovakia

The reason Harry Maguire will not play against Slovakia is because he has not fully recovered from the calf injury he has been carrying since April and will miss the rest of the tournament.

The 31-year-old defender was devastated after the news of being left out of the squad and stated: “I am devastated not to have been selected to play for England for the European Championships this summer. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to overcome a calf injury. Maybe I tried too hard to try and make it.”

Despite facing scrutiny within his current team, Manchester United, including calls from many fans for his early departure, Harry Maguire has remained a consistent presence in recent years in England’s national team, establishing himself as a defensive stalwart.

Hence, it comes as a surprise to see his absence from a tournament as significant as the Euro, where England stands as one of the main contenders. This omission becomes even more perplexing considering Maguire’s consistent involvement throughout the qualification process for the tournament.

Maguire out of Euro 2024

The reason for Harry Maguire‘s absence is the injury he suffered in his calf, from which he cannot recover in the best way. That is why it was finally decided to leave him out, even though many were counting on him to lead England’s defense.

“Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to overcome an injury to my calf. Maybe I pushed myself too hard, to try and make it. Simply, I am absolutely gutted,” Maguire posted on his social networks regretting his absence for England in this Euro 2024.

“For me, representing England is the highest honour. It means everything to me. If I can’t help the team as a player, I will support them as a fan – along with the rest of the country. Go and win it boys.”

England have never won this tournament in their history, but, with a roster full of stars, this is Southgate’s biggest opportunity as a coach. If he fails again, all signs point to a new name heading to the 2026 World Cup.

UEFA Euro 2024: Why is Harry Maguire not playing for England?

Harry Maguire confirmed the reason why he will not be ready to compete in the UEFA Euro 2024. England are favorites to win the tournament along with other teams such as France and Portugal.

“I am devastated not to have been selected to play for England at the Euros this summer. Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to overcome an injury to my calf. Maybe I pushed myself too hard to try and make it. Simply, I am absolutely gutted. Next, I will return to the supervision of the Manchester United medical team in order to prepare for next season.”

What is England’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024?

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton) and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).

Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) and Kyle Walker (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal) and Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford) and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Harry Maguire’s career hasn’t been smooth since joining Manchester United in 2019. The English center-back has made several mistakes and faced significant criticism from the team’s fans.

Fortunately for him, Matchday 3 of the current Champions League season turned out to be one of the best he has had recently. Maguire started the match, and with the score tied at 0-0, he opened it with an incredible header finisher.

WATCH: Harry Maguire puts Manchester United ahead against Copenhagen with an amazing header

After several mistakes, Harry Maguire finally redeemed himself for Manchester United. In a crucial match against Copenhagen, the center-back scored the lone goal of the night, securing victory for his team.

The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season has been challenging for Manchester United. The Red Devils began the tournament with two losses, making it crucial for them to secure a victory in their third match.

The English team hosted Copenhagen at Old Trafford. While the home team was considered the clear favorite, the match proved to be more challenging than anticipated.

The score remained 0-0 until the 72nd minute when Harry Maguire altered the course of the match. Christian Eriksen provided the assist to the center-back, who made a remarkable header to secure a 1-0 victory for Manchester United.

This victory serves as a breath of fresh air for the Red Devils. With three more games to play, Manchester United currently occupies the 3rd position in Group A, trailing behind Galatasaray (4 points) and Bayern Munich (9 points).

“I think Harry has come under some unnecessary scrutiny. He has probably been scapegoated a bit,” Kane said, via Ben Jacobs. “He is a really good friend of mine, a great guy and a really hard working professional. He has been one of England’s best defenders over recent times and in England’s history. It is part of our game now, you are scrutinised all over social media.”

Maguire has been unable to avoid the critics since he joined Manchester United in 2019. This season, Erik ten Hag started to drop him from the starting eleven as his performances left much to be desired last term.

Harry Kane about to face Harry Maguire in the Champions League

The fellow countrymen will meet when Bayern welcome Manchester United to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, September 20, in the first round of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League group stage.

While Kane is expected to lead the hosts’ attacking line, Maguire could also start for the visitors as Raphael Varane is injured.

How much have Manchester United spent for Harry Maguire?

Manchester United forked out €87 million to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City in the summer of 2019. According to Transfermarkt, his market value back then was €50m.

Ever since he moved to Old Trafford in 2019, things haven’t been easy for the center back. Maguire used to draw a lot of praise at Leicester, but failed to carry that level to Manchester and eventually, became a target of abuse.

The press is usually harsh on him, and many fans mock him on social media. As the critics resurfaced after England’s recent game, Maguire’s mother broke the silence.

Harry Maguire’s mother reacts to criticism received by Man Utd defender

“As a mum, seeing the level of negative and abusive comments in which is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country,” she said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

“I was there in the stands as usual, it’s not acceptable what’s been created over nothing. I understand that in world of football there are ups and downs, positive and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond football”.

“For me seeing him go through what’s he’s going through is not ok. I’d hate to have to see other parents or players go through this in future, especially young boys and girls breaking through the ranks today. Harry has a massive heart and it’s a good job he’s mentally strong and can handle it as others may not be able too. I wish this sort of abuse on nobody”.

How much have Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire?

Manchester United forked out €87 million to get Harry Maguire from Leicester in the summer of 2019.

The message was clear. One of the best players of England’s national team would lead a much needed rebuilding process. Maguire was supposed to be a legendary name in Old Trafford.

However, Harry Maguire has failed to deliver on the field, especially in the last months. That’s why Manchester United and Erik ten Hag have made a final decision about his future with the team.

Erik ten Hag finally speaks about Harry Maguire’s situation

A few weeks ago, many reports established that Manchester United had offer Harry Maguire a $12 million pay-off to leave. The defender has two more years in his contract but, if he accepted the supposed deal, the 30-year old would have been free to sign with any team he wants.

This Friday, during a long-awaited press conference, Erik ten Hag sent a very surprising message about Harry Maguire. Now, the situation seems to be totally different even after the defender got the news that he’s no longer captain of the team.

“I think everyone can understand it’s a disappointment for a player (being stripped of captaincy). Harry is an important player. Stays an important player. We have four center backs. We need four center backs minimum and maybe one extra as we’ve seen last season when you play so many games. So we are pleased to have Harry in our squad.“

It seemed like a win-win situation as many experts considered him the next top-defender in a long and great history from England with names such as Bobby Moore, John Terry, Jack Charlton or Rio Ferdinand.

However, Harry Maguire has been a disappointment in the last months and, as a consequence, no one knew for sure if he would have another chance at the Premier League with Manchester United. Now, the club just announced a major decision.

Manchester United make final decision on Harry Maguire

During his career, Harry Maguire has played for clubs such as Sheffield United, Hull City, Wigan, Leicester City and then, finally, Manchester United. He arrived to Old Trafford as a huge leader in a major rebuilding process, but, that never became a reality, especially when Erik ten Hag arrived as coach in 2022.

So, according to a report from Sky Sports, Manchester United won’t consider Maguire next season and have offered him a $12 million pay-off to leave. Right now, the defender has two more years in his contract. If he accepts the deal, the 30-year old is free to sign with any team he wants.

Of course, Harry Maguire could also decide to stay as his salary will still be massive even if he doesn’t play at all. In practical terms, Manchester United are offering him an entire year of salary in advance for him to void the last part of the agreement.

Whether Maguire accepts or not, it’s yet to be seen. Considering his bad performances in recent months, the problem for him could be the lack of offers compared to the salary he’s actually receiving. That would be the crossroad: playing time or money.