Sam Allardyce says Harry Maguire should consider rejecting an England call-up for the World Cup after Thomas Tuchel’s ‘harsh’ comments on the Manchester United defender.
Maguire, 33, was included in Tuchel’s expanded 35-man squad for the friendlies with Uruguay and Japan back in March.
Following Maguire’s England recall, Three Lions boss Tuchel said on the time: ‘As I said, that is the last camp before the trip to the US, so it’s also my final probability to get to know recent players, to find out about them and see how they slot in.
‘Harry isn’t a brand new player in an England shirt, after all, but he’s recent to me on this camp.
‘I would like to look at how he interacts with other players, see him on the pitch, understand what he’s able to, and gather enough insight to clarify decisions.’
Tuchel was less praiseworthy of Maguire after England’s draw with Uruguay and said he was his fifth-choice for the centre-back position going into the World Cup.
Assessing Maguire’s performance, Tuchel said: ‘I got exactly what I assumed, solid, solid central-defender play.
‘That’s what he does. Excellent on the ball, very calm, strong within the air and within the weapon for set-pieces.
‘I haven’t modified my mind, but I see other players I like to begin for us, I see other players ahead with a special profile.
‘I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guehi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevoh Chalobah on the extent of mobility was barely ahead of him. Also John Stones, but he had injuries, so he needed to return to camp.
‘I needed to satisfy him in person to see how he acts throughout the group. It’ll be interesting now to see how he acts throughout the group.
‘Like I said, he has an asset, after all, that he can be super vital in a tournament, in knockout football, in defending a lead and chasing a game with crosses and long throw-ins and set-pieces.’
Asked whether Maguire could be within the England squad if it was named back then, Tuchel added: ‘If, if, if. We don’t must name the squad tomorrow. He did an excellent game.
‘He did what he does for Man Utd. He did it immediately. I’m very completely satisfied with him. To be honest, I haven’t modified my mind. I got all the things I expected from him.
‘If I actually have to call it tomorrow, we now have loads of injuries, he may very well be in it. Who else could be there within the centre of defence?’
Allardyce felt Tuchel’s comments were ‘a bit harsh’ and says Maguire should ‘reconsider’ his availability for England ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
‘It’s a bit harsh,’ Allardyce told Footy Accumulators. ‘Harry endured such a difficult time at Manchester United when the club tried to belittle him – especially the manager on the time.
‘He’s lost his captaincy, his place within the England squad, and has been criticised so heavily in the previous few years. He’s taken every criticism on the chin and is proving everyone improper.
‘If I used to be in Harry’s position, I’d reconsider going with the camp in any respect. Perhaps to his own detriment, Harry has said that Tuchel’s comments would cause no problem and it makes you ponder whether he’s too nice!’
Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, accused Tuchel of ‘insulting’ Maguire along with his comments in the course of the international break.
Should Tuchel take Maguire to the World Cup?
Yes – his experience can be key
No – there are higher options
‘I believe Harry Maguire will take that as an insult in some respect,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
‘He can be sitting there and think, “hold on a minute, I’m greater than this.” In Tuchel’s eyes, he uses the word mobility. Other guys have more. I get what he’s saying. Nobody has to agree with it.’
Maguire has earned 66 caps for England since making his international debut under Sir Gareth Southgate in 2017.
The centre-back can be hoping to be named within the provisional England squad when it’s announced on Monday, with the ultimate list of the 26 players heading Stateside to be revealed by May 30.
England are bidding to win only their second World Cup this summer, starting their Group L campaign against Croatia on June 17.
The Three Lions then face Ghana and Panama as they appear to advance to the knockout stages and ultimately win the World Cup for the primary time since 1966.
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