PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE
HARRY MAGUIRE hopes Gareth Southgate woke with a thudding headache yesterday after the team he cobbled together gave one of the most assured England performances for some time.
Southgate was without several regulars including Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck.
But those who were called upon as replacements held their own in a 0-0 draw against world champions Germany at Wembley. Keeper Jordan Pickford, midfielder Ruben LoftusCheek and striker Tammy Abraham made their full debuts.
While defender Joe Gomez and midfielder Jack Cork came off the bench to earn their first caps.
And Maguire hopes they will have troubled Three Lions boss Southgate by giving him plenty to think about before he names his squad for the Russia World Cup.
The Leicester defender said: “I’m sure all the boys who played here believe they should be at this international level.
“Don’t get me wrong, we’ve got a lot of players who are injured, who couldn’t make it this time.
“I’m sure they’ll come in during the next few camps. But the boys who are playing at the moment are trying our best to give the manager a headache when it comes to the World Cup selection, you’ve seen that in all the debutants.
“Jordan pulled off two great saves, Ruben was man of the match – he was the best player on the pitch, to be fair. Joe came in as well and big Tammy, up top, had his chances. Maybe with a little bit more luck he could have scored. All the new boys who have come in added something different.
“We go on the pitch, especially the boys who have one, two, or three caps, and we are trying to give the manager a headache.
“Hopefully we did that against Germany.”
Maguire picked up a second cap against Germany after making his debut in the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
And he admits it is another step along the way of a crazy few months which saw him relegated with Hull, signed by Leicester and elevated to international status.
Whirlwind
He added: “First and foremost, getting picked for England gives you a lot of confidence.
“It shows the manager trusts you. When you see yourself in the starting XI it gives you a bit more confidence to go out and play well.
“Fair play to all the management team for giving me the confidence to come here and try to prove myself to everyone that I am capable of this sort of level.
“It’s crazy. I’ve had a whirlwind of a year. From the worst – getting relegated from the Premier League, a horrible feeling – to signing for a great club like Leicester.
“Then getting the first England call-up which topped everything off and probably the proudest moment of my life.”