Maguire finds perfect way to silence critics
IT IS a strange state of affairs when playing for your country can act as therapy, and a packed Wembley doubles as a rather noisy retreat.
But for Harry Maguire that is what last night must have felt like.
After the madness of Manchester United, England duty proved a restorative alternative with the goal which released the lion rampant.
An unmarked far-post header, from Reece James’s ninth-minute free-kick, unlocked the door to the avalanche that followed and was celebrated with a knee-slide with fingers in his ears to show how he had managed to shut out all the negative noise.
Two fingers in his ears – two fingers up to the critics.
He has been justifiably in the firing line after rushing back from the calf injury which forced him to miss England’s previous two qualifiers and has looked off the pace. Being spokesman for the indefensible has been no fun either.
Up a little one game, down a lot the next with his malfunctioning club side – it has been a rollercoaster existence for the United captain.
The flak has been flying from all directions with each game seemingly bringing a new crisis. With England,
though, life is plain sailing. In 2021 they have tasted defeat only once – in that shoot-out against Italy in the Euros final.
With San Marino – officially the worst side in the world – to come on Monday that record is not about to change.
It is rare to see a poor England display these days, largely because they have a tactical framework and are comfortable following it. Sometimes the lack of flair can be a frustration but not last night as they tore apart the ragged Albanians.
There was a tweak to the usual set-up and in a back three Maguire bore more of a resemblance to the centre-back who made the UEFA team of the tournament at the Euros in the summer.
Admittedly Albania’s strikeforce – comprising Konyaspor’s Sokol Cikalleshi and Myrto Uzuni of Ferencvaros – might not have been up there with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, but you can only play what is in front of you.
And, save for one back-pass brainstorm from Kyle Walker, England’s defence largely controlled what minimal threat there was.
For Maguire, the defensive shut-out was satisfying and the goal a glorious release. He will hope a page has been turned.