Harry Maguire has broken his silence after being omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup, describing the decision as one that has left him stunned — and devastated.
The Manchester United defender, who has earned 66 caps for his country and featured in three major tournaments, took to social media to express his disbelief at being cut from the squad despite what he believes has been a strong return to form at club level.
“I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” Maguire wrote. “I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer.”
The omission is a bitter blow for a player who appeared to have done everything asked of him. After losing his place at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim, Maguire fought his way back into the starting XI under Michael Carrick, featuring in 14 of United’s last 16 Premier League games — missing only two matches due to suspension.
That resurgence had earned him a recall to the England setup in March, where he impressed during the 1-1 draw with Uruguay and came off the bench in the 1-0 defeat to Japan. Tuchel himself spoke warmly of Maguire’s contribution after the Uruguay match, praising what he called “solid, solid central-defender play.”
“Very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and a weapon for set-pieces,” the England manager said at the time.
Yet even those words of praise came with an implicit warning. In the same post-match briefing, Tuchel named four centre-backs he considered ahead of Maguire in his defensive pecking order — a signal, with hindsight, that the veteran’s international career was hanging by a thread regardless of his form.
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While Maguire is out, Ivan Toney has been handed a shock recall to the squad — a decision that will intensify scrutiny of Tuchel’s selection philosophy heading into the tournament.
Luke Shaw has also been left out, according to sources, compounding what amounts to a significant generational shift in Tuchel’s thinking as he finalises his plans for the summer.
Tuchel’s full 26-man World Cup squad is set to be officially announced on Friday, May 22. England will use two warm-up fixtures to sharpen their preparations before competitive action begins.
They face New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica on June 10 — both with 9pm UK kick-offs — before their tournament opener against Croatia. For Maguire, there will be no part in those preparations.
After 66 caps, three major tournaments, and a career resurgence that appeared to put him firmly back in the picture, he will watch England’s World Cup challenge from the outside — left, in his own words, shocked and gutted by a decision that has stunned those who had tracked his remarkable comeback.