Maguire 'shocked and gutted' as Foden, Palmer and Trent miss Tuchel's England World Cup squad

Harry Maguire has broken his silence over his omission from England’s World Cup squad, saying he was left “shocked and gutted” by Thomas Tuchel’s decision to cut him from the 26-man group ahead of the tournament in the United States.

Maguire, a veteran of three major tournaments with England, took to social media to express his dismay. “I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” the Manchester United centre-back wrote. “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.”

His family echoed his frustration. Wife Fern called it a decision driven by “a single opinion”, writing that Maguire had done everything possible to prove his worth, while his mother Zoe described the omission as “absolutely disgusting” and “disgraceful”.

Maguire was not alone in missing out. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold were also overlooked by Tuchel, a set of exclusions that drew widespread criticism given the creative quality those players offer. Four players who were never in contention for the final squad — Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha and Josh King — have now formally departed the US camp after featuring in pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica.

Pundit Micah Richards said the absence of Foden and Palmer in particular was a mistake. “I don’t agree in terms of the squad that he’s picked because I would have had at least Phil Foden or Cole Palmer in there because in tournaments, there’s moments where you need some magic,” Richards said. He suggested Tuchel had prioritised squad harmony over individual brilliance, noting that several of the selected players — among them Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Djed Spence, Tino Livramento and Ivan Toney — were comfortable in supporting roles. “They’re happy being second fiddle and knowing their role within the squad, so I understand why he’s done it. I don’t necessarily agree with it.”

Former England captain John Terry also took issue with the final selections, telling Piers Morgan Uncensored that both Maguire and Luke Shaw should have been included, describing Maguire as the better player in his position.

The inclusion of 35-year-old Henderson, who has spent the past two seasons in Saudi Arabia, has added further fuel to the debate, with many observers struggling to reconcile his presence with the absence of two of England’s most creative players from the past two seasons.