Harry Maguire was ‘very lucky’ to miss England team-mate Wayne Rooney

Former England captain Wayne Rooney says Harry Maguire was very lucky to miss out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this summer.

Manchester United defender Maguire, who has made 66 appearances for his country, was part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the last eight in Qatar in 2022.

Despite injury ruling Maguire out of Euro 2024, a recent call-up for March internationals has boosted the 33-year-old’s hopes of making the plane in the US, Mexico and Canada.

“I think Maguire was big for me, a bit of a shock,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney podcast.

“I think if you look at him on form, I think Harry Maguire is very lucky not to be in it. Maybe he (Thomas Tuchel) thought he didn’t want to be disrespectful to Harry Maguire and take him and not play. I don’t know.

“I’m sure they’ve had talks. Big call from defenders (probably) Harry or Dan Byrne and Tuchel chose to go with Dan.

“Even the decisions I don’t like, I think I have faith in Tuchel and him as a manager from everything we’ve seen.”

Rooney, 40, won 120 caps for England between 2003 and 2018, scoring 53 goals.

And having represented his country at six major tournaments, the England boss believes he has made the right calls around No.10, with Morgan Rodgers and Jude Bellingham preferred alongside Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Rooney says if Aston Villa’s Rodgers is chosen ahead of Real Madrid’s Bellingham, the German’s next challenge will solve the furor problem.

Rooney added: “I think this is a challenge that Tuchel has to be ready for.

“I’m sure he’s prepared and if he doesn’t start, I’m sure he knows what will come from the media, from Judea, from Judea’s family.

“Of course you’ve got Judas, who escaped the camps, but you can’t get him out of the group.

“I think Judd could be the opposite of what Thomas Tuchel is trying to create for this tournament. He is a wizard and you have to accept that. You need a player like that in your World Cup squad.

“Judah has moments, big moments. We’ve seen that. So there’s[the evidence].