GAMBLE ON MAGUIRE MIGHT JUST PAY OFF
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GARETH Southgate’s faith in the bloke affectionately known as ‘Slab Head’ has been unwavering, despite the storm that has engulfed the man himself.
Harry Maguire might not let England down much but he still has a lot to thank Southgate for. He is now in his debt.
While Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has turned his back on Maguire, Southgate has refused to do the same.
Desperate
His inclusion in this squad, let alone the team to face the Italians at the San Siro last night, felt like a desperate invitation for the defender to start his rehabilitation process.
It felt either brave or foolish of Southgate to send Maguire out into the cauldron of this footballing coliseum to face the European champions, having started just one game since August 13.
Just for good measure, he was lining up alongside someone in a back three winning his first England cap in two years, in the shape of Eric Dier.
With the World Cup on the horizon, his dwindling reputation was on the line, not to mention Southgate’s.
Could Maguire show people he isn’t a washed-up force at 29?
Southgate isn’t known as a gambler, but he was rolling the dice here.
Travelling fans chanted Maguire’s name before kickoff, but he endured a torrid opening which saw him dummied, before Giacomo Raspadori got behind him and Gianluca Scamacca got above him.
But he began to find his feet and saw a header at one end saved, before making some crucial interventions at the other to frustrate the Italians
He then laid into
Bukayo Saka for conceding a dangerous free-kick, just to remind he can still be a commanding presence.
But Maguire’s performance summed up the game. Bang average.
Did these two teams really battle it out to become champions of Europe 14 months ago?
Back then Maguire’s place in the England team was set in stone.
Yet unless someone emerges to challenge for his spot, the status quo will remain. Southgate said as much in the build-up to this Nations League showdown, when he admitted Maguire remains the best England have got in that position. And whether people like it or not, he might just be right, too.