Fury over Maguire’s WC selection

FANS have reacted angrily after Gareth Southgate selected Harry Maguire and Eric Dier in his World Cup squad on Thursday.

Tottenham defender Dier has made several high-profile errors in recent weeks, while Manchester United captain Maguire is fourth choice for his club and has only started three Premier League matches this season.

And fans quickly took to social media to react to the squad and criticise the inclusion of the centre backs at the expense of players like Fikayo Tomori.

Elsewhere, Leicester's James Maddison is the headline name included. He was praised by TV host Gary Lineker for forcing his way into Southgate's plans, while it was revealed he accidentally missed the manager's phone call about making it in.

Maguire, Dier, Manchester City pair John Stones and Kyle Walker, Arsenal's Ben White and Everton's Conor Coady are the six centre backs named in the squad.

Stones, particularly, and Walker having evidently proved his fitness as he recovers from injury — were nailed-on to travel to Qatar, with White gaining a place after fine form for Premier League leaders Arsenal.

But the inclusions of Dier, Maguire and even Coady ahead of several viable alternatives like AC Milan star Tomori and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi has caused consternation among fans — who were not afraid to air their feelings on Twitter.

One said: 'Eric Dier and Harry Maguire being picked over Tomori is criminal #England.'

A second added: 'Coady is good, but selecting Dier and Maguire over Tomori is bad.'

Another posted: 'Dier and Maguire over Tomori and Rashford over Toney, is nothing short of a disgrace Only positive is Maddison made it. #SouthgateOut.'

One tweeted: 'So you’re telling me Tomori don’t get in over Dier, Coady or Maguire…cmon man lol.'

A fifth said: 'Even Rob Holding had to be on a plane coz he is far better than Dier and Maguire,' followed by a cry-laughing emoji.

Another concluded: 'Maguire, coady and dier going to World Cup in front of tomori, Guehi and even smalling is why I don’t trust this country to succeed in anything.'