‘Harry Maguire is in my team of the tournament’ – Manchester United captain hailed for ‘fantastic’ England performances at World Cup

Harry Maguire’s ‘fantastic’ performances should earn him a spot in the World Cup’s team of the tournament, talkSPORT has been told.

Maguire has started every game at centre-back alongside John Stones at Qatar 2022 and helped the Three Lions advance to the quarter-finals on Sunday night.

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The defender’s place in the England backline had been questioned by fans and pundits before Qatar after the centre-back saw a sharp dip in form at club level with Manchester United.

Since Erik ten Hag took over as manager in the summer, the Red Devils captain missed a number of games through injury, but has got in his side’s starting XI just five times so far.

However in Qatar, Maguire has proved to be a rock in England’s defence and is a key part in the Three Lions’ World Cup run once again.

The 29-year-old seems to have returned to being the player he was for Gareth Southgate’s side that reached the semi-finals in Russia in 2018 – and talkSPORT’s Darren Ambrose thinks he’s been that brilliant he deserves a spot in the team of the tournament.

“For me at the moment Harry Maguire, he’s in my team of the tournament,” the ex-Premier League midfielder said.

“At present he’s in my team of the tournament for the character he’s shown to come from the form he was in, the football he was playing.”

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When asked if fans owe him an apology for doubting him being able to do a good job for England, Ambrose said: “No I don’t think they do.

“Because of his form and his lack of game time at Manchester United, everyone felt that he wasn’t right, not only for the starting line-up but a few people weren’t picking him for the squad.

“But in terms of what he does for England, everyone says he never lets England down.

“Okay in the first goal in the first game against Iran, they ran off him, but he had blurred vision, it turns out he was ill.”

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England will now face 2018 world champions France in the quarter-finals on Saturday evening – live on talkSPORT – in what will be a tough test for England.

However Ambrose thinks the clash will be a great test of Maguire’s ability in particular, given Les Bleus’ carry the threat of the tournament’s top scorer Kylian Mbappe.

“He’s been fantastic. Okay he was a little bit sloppy, but there’s your question mark,” Ambrose said.

“If you start like that and give away a few sloppy passes against France, they’ll probably make you pay.”