Awkward moment Harry Maguire has to listen to Lineker and Co heap praise on ‘refreshing’ Tuchel after World Cup snub
GARY LINEKER shared a slightly awkward moment with Harry Maguire after praising England boss Thomas Tuchel.
The Three Lions earned a 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening World Cup match on Wednesday.
And during the subsequent episode of The Rest is Football on Netflix, the presenting team heaped praise on head coach Tuchel for his tactics and game-changing substitutions.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said: “His substitutions were really refreshing for me,
“They were really positive at a really sticky time of the game. He could have gone really defensive but he went: ‘No, I’m not having none of that.’
“He made really positive substitutions. Djed Spence came on. He could have scored for a really good save. Rashford came on and scored the wonderful goal.
“His substitutions were at the right time. They were absolutely fantastic, and judging by what he said after the game and his attitude, I think that’s the way he’s going to go.
“He’s going to say: ‘This is my way, I’m going to be really positive. You either like it or lump it. We’ll either win this competition by being positive… or not and it’ll backfire.’
“I thought everything he did today was spot on.”
Lineker then made the situation more awkward for studio guest Maguire, who missed out on a place in the squad last month.
The Leicester City icon asked: “Did it start to make sense, the way England played today, perhaps some of the people who have been omitted?”
He then quickly added: “With one exception!”
Maguire expressed his disappointment at being left out of the England squad when it was announced in May.
He took to social media to write: “I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.
“I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer.”
The Manchester United centre-back opened up about his exile during another appearance on The Rest is Football earlier this week.
Revealing how Tuchel broke the news, 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 straight away 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.”