"Shocked and gutted": Maguire's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Harry Maguire thought he had done enough.

After fighting his way back into the England picture, recovering from injury and helping Manchester United return to the Champions League, the defender believed one final reward awaited him - a place at the World Cup.

Instead, the call never came.

The 33-year-old revealed he is "shocked and gutted" after learning that Thomas Tuchel will leave him out of England's final 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I've had," Maguire admitted to talkSPORT. "I've been left shocked and gutted by the decision."

For a player whose international career has constantly swung between criticism and redemption, the blow feels especially brutal.

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Maguire had only recently returned to the England setup in March, making his first international appearance since September 2024. Behind the scenes, there was a growing belief he had played his way back into contention.

After an inconsistent start to the season under Ruben Amorim at United, Maguire rebuilt his status following his recovery from a hamstring injury in January. Under Michael Carrick, he once again became a key figure at the heart of the defence, making 24 appearances and helping steer the club back into Europe's elite competition.

And yet, it still was not enough.

The decision closes another painful chapter in Maguire's complicated relationship with England. Despite 66 caps and having started every single match at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, his place has never truly felt secure. Injury robbed him of UEFA Euro 2024, and now Tuchel has decided to move forward without one of the Three Lions' most experienced tournament players.

England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 14 before facing Ghana and Panama in Group L.