Jose Mourinho and Jamie Carragher have differing opinions when it came to Manchester United defender Harry Maguire’s England inclusion today.
Gareth Southgate’s side face the Czech Republic tonight in their final group match before the knockout phase.
With their qualification as one of the top two seeded teams not yet secured, the Three Lions manager must get his team selection spot on.
There are plenty of permutations heading into the tie to consider.
Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount may miss out, after being told to isolate following interaction with Billy Gilmour last Friday.
Does this mean using Jack Grealish? Or Jadon Sancho?
Perhaps the biggest question surrounding Southgate’s decision is whether to start Maguire against the Czechs.
United’s skipper hasn’t kicked a ball competitively since suffering an ankle injury in early May.
The 28-year-old said he felt fit and ready to play ahead of the crunch clash at Wembley.
This should be a boost for Southgate to have one of his experienced squad members back available.
Carragher and Mourinho’s Maguire verdict
Carragher felt Maguire has to come straight back into the fold despite his lack of game time.
Writing for the Telegraph, he said: “Elsewhere, it makes sense to bring in Harry Maguire to get him up to speed for the rest of the competition.”
However, Mourinho did not share Carragher’s views on the Red Devils defender.
“As for Harry Maguire, I would throw him in at centre back when England are winning 2-0,” he wrote in his Times column.
“John Stones and Tyrone Mings have two clean sheets, are fit and playing well together.
“Maguire brings leadership and presence, a threat in set pieces too, but we need to see that his condition after injury is good.”
Stones and Mings featured together in both of the opening fixtures, keeping out Croatia and Scotland.
Not many top-level teams change their central-defensive partnership mid-way through a tournament.
Maguire has previous with playing alongside Stones at the 2018 World Cup, so Mings would be the likely drop out.
It seems a little harsh on the Aston Villa man, who’s performed well under the circumstances.
But with growing pressure from the Old Trafford skipper to be reinstated, Southgate might struggle to keep all his centre-halves happy.
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