Danny Mills Kritik Tuchel Usai Coret Harry Maguire

Keputusan manajer tim nasional Inggris Thomas Tuchel mencoret bek Manchester United Harry Maguire dari skuad final Piala Dunia 2026 memicu kritik tajam dari mantan bek Inggris Danny Mills pada Juni 2026.

Kritik tersebut muncul setelah Harry Maguire terlihat mengunjungi New York, Amerika Serikat, untuk bertemu para penggemar dan membagikan stiker di Rockefeller Center serta sebuah bar bernama Long Acre di dekat Times Square.

Mantan bek Inggris Danny Mills menyampaikan pandangannya mengenai situasi lini belakang Inggris dan keputusan pemilihan pemain oleh Tuchel saat berbicara kepada GOAL.

"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 was a little bit surprised by Stones and Konsa, that selection. 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." ujar Danny Mills, Mantan Bek Inggris.

Mills juga memberikan analisis mengenai alasan pemanggilan Trevoh Chalobah menggantikan Tino Livramento yang cedera, alih-alih memilih Maguire.

"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." kata Danny Mills, Mantan Bek Inggris.

Di tengah absensinya dari turnamen, Maguire mengungkapkan momen ketika dirinya dihubungi oleh Tuchel mengenai keputusan tersebut dalam sebuah siniar Netflix milik Gary Lineker yang berjudul The Rest Is Football.

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

Maguire tetap menunjukkan sikap positif saat menyapa para pendukungnya di New York meskipun harus menyaksikan turnamen dari jauh.

"Even if we miss the World Cup, I'll go to the U.S.!" kata Harry Maguire, Bek Manchester United.

Ia juga menambahkan tentang dukungan luar biasa yang ia terima dari para penggemar setempat.

"I may have been dropped by Tuchel, but the fans' cheers remain" ujar Harry Maguire, Bek Manchester United.

Media Inggris, "The Sun", melaporkan kegiatan Maguire selama berada di kota tersebut untuk menghibur kekecewaannya.

"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 "The Sun".

Kehadiran pemain bintang tersebut mengejutkan banyak anak-anak dan pengunjung yang berada di lokasi.

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

Media sosial Spanyol, Marca, dan media olahraga internasional lainnya juga memberikan candaan mengenai aktivitas Maguire di New York.

"Found a new job! Snubbed for World Cup 2026, Maguire sells Panini stickers on the streets of New York" tulis dailysports.net.

Saat menganalisis pertandingan Inggris melawan Kroasia, Gary Lineker memberikan pujian pada taktik Tuchel namun sempat melakukan salah ucap.

"Watching England's game today, you don't feel the absence of players left out of the squad," kata Gary Lineker, Presenter.

Lineker kemudian segera meralat ucapannya karena menyadari kehadiran Maguire di studio.

"Of course, one (Maguire) is an exception." ujar Gary Lineker, Presenter.

Melalui akun media sosial pribadinya, Maguire menyampaikan pesan mendalam mengenai kegagalannya membela tim nasional.

"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." tulis Harry Maguire, Bek Manchester United.