Harry Maguire Promosikan Album Panini di New York Usai Dicoret Tuchel

Bek Manchester United Harry Maguire kedapatan membagikan stiker koleksi Panini di jalanan New York, Amerika Serikat, setelah namanya dicoret dari skuad timnas Inggris untuk Piala Dunia 2026 oleh pelatih Thomas Tuchel.

Keputusan Thomas Tuchel mencoret bek berusia 33 tahun tersebut memicu perdebatan luas mengenai lini pertahanan Inggris, terutama setelah Tino Livramento mundur akibat cedera dan posisi penggantinya justru diberikan kepada Trevoh Chalobah.

Harry Maguire mengungkapkan momen canggung saat dirinya dihubungi oleh sang manajer mengenai keputusan tersebut dalam sebuah siniar bersama Gary Lineker.

"He FaceTimes everyone. It’s quite an awkward call." ujar Harry Maguire, bek Manchester United.

Melalui media sosial pribadinya, mantan kapten Setan Merah itu juga menuangkan kekecewaannya karena tidak bisa membela negaranya di turnamen akbar tersebut.

"I was certain I could play an important role for the national team, so this decision was very shocking and heartbreaking. There was no greater honor than wearing the national team jersey and Jo Guk-eul (CEO). Although I cannot be with you, I sincerely wish luck to our players participating in this tournament." kata Harry Maguire, bek Manchester United.

Mantan bek kanan timnas Inggris, Danny Mills, mengutarakan pandangannya kepada GOAL mengenai rapuhnya organisasi pertahanan skuad Tiga Singa tanpa kehadiran sosok pemimpin seperti Maguire.

"I think going into the tournament, the defensive situation was always going to be the worry - especially as you go deep into the tournament and you come up against better teams, some very, very good teams, in the latter stages. Trying to find that balance is never going to be easy, I think, with the squad that was picked. I've said from day one, if Stones is fit, he plays, because I think he's exceptional.

But I would have played him alongside Marc Guehi. They've not just played together at Manchester City, they know each other from Manchester City as well. They've trained together every day, they have an understanding, they've built that up.

Reece James, I think he's a fantastic full-back and a great footballer. Left-back, Nico O'Reilly has done great for Manchester City, but my concern is he's better attacking than he is defensively at times, and he goes wandering into those areas. So, yes, I was surprised by the omission of Harry Maguire.

When I look at the squad in general, defensively, at what stage do some of those players start for England? I'm not sure some of them do, unless there's six or seven injuries. Whereas Harry Maguire, you can bring on, you can play him in a back three if you need to.

You can use him as a weapon up front. So, yes, one or two defensive concerns still. Fantastic second half, great performance in the second half, but I think there will be much stiffer challenges to come." kata Danny Mills, mantan bek Inggris.

Danny Mills juga berspekulasi mengenai alasan pemanggilan Trevoh Chalobah alih-alih memanggil kembali Maguire yang sudah memiliki 66 penampilan internasional.

"I have to assume that when the squad was announced - three weeks ago, three-and-a-half, four weeks ago - Thomas Tuchel would have had to say to four or five players, ‘keep yourself fit and keep yourself ready, because you're on the standby list and if something happens, you may get a phone call’. That is hard because you're not involved in it and most of your other players and colleagues are either at a World Cup or they're off on holiday, enjoying themselves and doing what they need to do. But you've got to train alone, keep training - very, very hard to get to that stage and be ready just in case. So I would assume that's the reason why there would be a list of maybe four or five that were told you have an opportunity if somebody gets injured and that's maybe why that call-up has come." tambah Danny Mills, mantan bek Inggris.

Kehadiran Maguire di New York dilaporkan oleh media Inggris, The Sun, saat sang pemain mendatangi van promosi Panini di Rockefeller Center dan mengejutkan para penggemar setempat.

"after being left out of England's 26-man final roster for the North America World Cup, Maguire visited New York, spent time communicating with Manchester United fans, and distributed Panini stickers to children." tulis laporan media lokal The Sun.

Media tersebut juga menyoroti reaksi histeris anak-anak dan suporter Manchester United yang berada di lokasi promosi.

"children and fans were unable to hide their surprise at the unexpected appearance of a star player." tambah laporan media lokal The Sun.

Di dalam program siaran langsung, Gary Lineker sempat melontarkan komentar yang memicu reaksi canggung sebelum ia menyadari kekeliruannya di depan Maguire.

"Watching England's game today, you don't feel the absence of players left out of the squad," ujar Gary Lineker, presenter sepak bola.

Gary Lineker langsung meralat pernyataannya setelah melihat ekspresi sang bek tengah di studio.

"Of course, one (Maguire) is an exception." ralat Gary Lineker, presenter sepak bola.