‘Complete overreaction’ – Fans disagree over Harry Maguire selection

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Manchester United's English defender Harry Maguire gestures during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on October 30, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Harry Maguire’s inclusion in England’s 26-man World Cup squad has predictably caused disagreement among fans across social media.

This afternoon I tweeted that there would be hoax outrage from sections of the media over Maguire’s selection, even though Gareth Southgate was always going to bring the Manchester United centre-back to Qatar.

Maguire has struggled for game time this season, playing a bit-part role under Erik ten Hag when fit. He’s made four Premier League appearances this season, with just three of those coming as starts.

While it has been well documented that Maguire has struggled for form at United, I don’t think that has been the case on the international stage. The former Hull City defender has always been one of Southgate’s most trusted lieutenants, so he was never going to leave him at home.

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On another note, I would argue that Maguire will be fresh ahead of the World Cup because he hasn’t been playing too much football this season. That isn’t the case for most players going to the World Cup.

Southgate explained his selection on Thursday, saying: “He is one of our best centre-backs.”

However, fans and journalists have been reacting to the news on social, and it shows that quite a few disagree with Maguire’s selection.

https://twitter.com/dylanwalsh_/status/1590716260517826564?s=61&t=50o2s5JP5oYG93r6Qdxx6Q

https://twitter.com/mo_therad/status/1590674721439633408?s=61&t=50o2s5JP5oYG93r6Qdxx6Q

https://twitter.com/goat7ii/status/1590674390429347842?s=61&t=50o2s5JP5oYG93r6Qdxx6Q

We should note that not all of these tweets are from United fans.

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