Pranav Nair
Gary Neville names Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire critical to England’s Euro 2021 hopes
Speaking on Monday Night Football (h/t The Daily Mail), Gary Neville has named Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire as the crucial piece in England’s Euro 2021 squad.
The Three Lions go into the tournament with a plethora of talent at their disposal. But as is often the case with the team, it remains to be seen if they can get the most out of these players.
While Neville admits that Harry Kane is the best player in the England squad, he believes Maguire is someone who is indispensable.
“Harry Kane’s the best player in the squad but in this particular squad if Gareth wants a back-four in the squad and go for a 4-3-3 formation, the only chance of that is keeping Harry Maguire fit.”
Neville believes Maguire is the most dependable defender England have and that his loss would be a major blow for the team. While he can amaze or frustrate in equal measure, there is little doubt that the United star on his day is a solid defender.
“You lose Harry Maguire. That is a big problem for Gareth Southgate. I think it is his biggest problem.”
When asked if he thought Maguire would be a bigger miss than Kane, Neville wasted no time in replying in the affirmative.
The gap in quality!
The likes of John Stones, Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings and Eric Dier are all competent players. However, they aren’t at the same level as Maguire and have often struggled to play for England.
Neville’s preference of Maguire over Kane has much to do with the players below them in the pecking order. Kane’s absence can see Southgate call upon the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling or Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The chasm in quality, however, is larger when it comes to the backline.
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The United skipper showcased his importance to the team in the recently concluded World Cup qualifier against Poland. A solid defensive display was capped off with a stellar winning goal as Maguire led England to a 2-1 win.
