Despite a promising first-half display, Harry Maguire is yet again centre-stage in social media’s post-match chatter after a calamitous display during England’s 3-3 draw with Germany last night.
The Manchester United captain looked comfortable in the first period, sweeping up loose balls and playing out from the back in a dead-pan opening 45 minutes.
However, on 50 minutes Maguire fizzed a loose ball straight into the feet of Germany’s dazzling Jamal Musiala, which was met with the collective groan of 79,000 disgruntled England supporters.
Rushing out of position, the 19-year-old bamboozled his opponent with a whirl of feints and shoulder-drops before sliding the ball through Maguire’s legs, leaving the former Leicester City man no choice but to bring him down as he collapsed in graceless, inelegant heap in the England penalty box.
With new United boss Erik Ten Hag quickly opting to leave him out of the side, and this display the latest in a long line of cataclysmic performances, it certainly begs the question whether Gareth Southgate will be forced into looking at alternative options come the World Cup in November.
Southgate’s loyalty to his players is to be respected, but when do warning signs stop being warning signs and just become avoidable mistakes? While the blame can not be solely down to Maguire, his last 10 starts for club and country have failed to yield a win.
Twitter users were quick to pile on the misery for the 29-year-old, and below we have listed just some of the far-reaching criticism that ensued following the game.
Maguire is getting loads of hate right now and I don’t want to add more fuel to the fire but I genuinely can’t see a way back for him, he’s genuinely finished.
— 天蝎座 (@UtdEIIis) September 26, 2022
Maguire starting, Ben White sat at home. Just bonkers.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) September 26, 2022
• Maguire concedes a penalty.
• Maguire loses the ball which leads to Germany’s 2nd goal.An overprotected average player. https://t.co/gLFqi0ur37
— ' (@TheShowtimeReds) September 27, 2022
Maguire: "People criticise me for clicks."
Also Maguire: Loses the ball and then concedes a penalty for Germany's 1st goal.
Loses the ball again for Germany's 2nd goal. pic.twitter.com/OgcDgft682
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) September 26, 2022
If England and Southgate truly plan to be ruthless, as he recently suggested, he will surely need to begin by axing one of his most trusted starters should he continue to be cast out at Old Trafford.
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