TUCH AND GO 

‘He couldn’t give me an excuse’ – Harry Maguire reveals how Thomas Tuchel tried to justify England World Cup axe to him

HARRY MAGUIRE has revealed how Thomas Tuchel tried to justify his World Cup axe.

The Manchester United defender was snubbed from the final 26-man squad for the tournament despite his impressive end to the season.

Maguire, 33, helped the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League under new manager Michael Carrick.

But it was not enough to convince Tuchel to offer him a chance to replicate the form on the world’s biggest football stage.

The German boss FaceTimed Maguire and the other players, who were not going to tell them the news.

Maguire has revealed that the former Chelsea manager could not excuse his snub.

But he did try to justify picking John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Jarell Quansah as they played under him in the Autumn.

Maguire made the revelation during an appearance on Gary Lineker’s Rest is Football World Cup podcast.

He said: “He FaceTimed everyone. It was quite an awkward call.

“It is quite a unique way of doing it and it must be quite hard because he can see everyone’s reactions.

“I said straightaway I was really disappointed.

“I thought I did enough to be in the squad and thought I could have helped and had a part to play on and off the pitch.

“He said he can’t give me an excuse but he had gone with the four lads who got him through the autumn.

“It was tough to take. I did think I would be in the squad after being selected for the March camp under him for the first time.

“I did really well in both games and then went back to Manchester United and finished the season really strongly.”

Tuchel will hope he made the right decision to leave Maguire at home as England kick off their tournament TONIGHT.

The Three Lions face Croatia in their first Group L game at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The team to start the game has reportedly been leaked with Arsenal star Bukayo Saka set to miss out.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/39444643/world-cup-england-thomas-tuchel-harry-maguire/