If Harry Maguire no longer has the opportunity to wear the England national team jersey, he can still be proud of an admirable international career.
The center-back born in 1993 is almost a key factor in the "Three Lions"' journey to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, and also plays an important role on the road to the EURO 2021 final. At that tournament, Maguire also scored in the victory against Ukraine in the quarter-finals.
He started all matches of the England national team at the 2022 World Cup and has made a total of 64 appearances in the national team jersey, scoring 7 goals - a not-so-bad performance for a central defender. However, Maguire last played for England in early September 2024, under interim coach Lee Carsley.
The injury somewhat affects his journey, but clearly Maguire is not currently in the top priority group of coach Thomas Tuchel in defense. However, although the German coach finds it difficult to make a decision based on just one match, the impressive performance of the 32-year-old center-back in the Manchester derby can completely bring him back to the national team's sights.
That form could also change Man United's stance on Maguire's future. His contract will expire at the end of the season, and there have been many opinions that this center-back will be allowed to leave on a free transfer.
However, Michael Carrick is a person who admires Maguire very much. The decision to put him on the starting line against Manchester City proved to be the right choice. Maguire's header cleared the ball, opening up a counter-attack situation for Bryan Mbeumo to score, and in defense, he and Lisandro Martinez effectively blocked Erling Haaland to the point that Pep Guardiola was forced to withdraw the Norwegian striker from the field.
Carrick did not hide his satisfaction after the match: "I think this is a match that requires a lot of bravery and experience. It is a big challenge for Maguire, and I really admire him. Sometimes we forget the efforts that players have to put in, but the way he plays today shows it all.
Honestly, it's a calculated gamble. We have to consider how long he can play, because Maguire only trains 2 or 3 days a week for 8 or 9 weeks. That shows how important this match is to him. And he played really well".
In fact, Maguire is not only solid in defense but also shows his familiar attacking support ability. He almost scored an early goal with a header that hit the crossbar.
In the most recent call-up, Tuchel has selected 5 center-backs who can take on the central position of the defense, including John Stones. However, the Man City player has only started 4 matches in the Premier League this season and has not played since the 5-4 victory over Fulham in early December.
At the present time, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa seem to be dominating in the competition for a starting spot towards the 2026 World Cup. However, the reserve positions in the center of the defense are still open, especially when names like Jarell Quansah or Dan Burn have not had a smooth season.
If he maintains good fitness, Maguire will almost certainly continue to be a pillar of Man United until the end of the season. And that could create a pleasant headache not only for Tuchel, but also for the leadership at Old Trafford.
