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Harry Maguire (Getty Images)
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After celebrating Hull's promotion to the Premier League, Maguire and a group of friends made the trip to France to see England's 0-0 group match against Slovakia.
These same friends are now in Russia, but this time, Maguire plays a crucial role. in the unlikely pursuit of the World Cup in England.
It was an incredible ascent for the Sheffield defender, who made his England debut in a 1-0 qualifier win against Lithuania in October.
The 2016-17 season was Maguire's first season as an established player at the highest level, and although Hull was sentenced to relegation to the Premier League, his performances persuaded Leicester to sign him for a five-year contract. years. It was a clever move as the mighty Maguire, six feet four inches tall, played every minute of the Premier League in his first season with the Foxes.
He was rewarded with two Leicester players the year awards – players and fans – but his ascent to an unlikely World Cup hero would not have been possible without Gareth Southgate .
The English manager showed great confidence in Maguire while he was trying to forge a new team identity after taking over from Sam Allardyce in 2016.
" When I watched it during the season, I was so motivated that it stayed in shape because I thought it was a scene on which it could show that it was could play. "Southgate said after Ma Guire scored his first international goal in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Sweden.
"I'm not sure that he always believed that: his first match in (Lithuania) which he was talking about was simply desperate not to make mistakes."
Southgate's decision to use a third goal, as the semi-finals at 96 and the 1990 World Cup played in favor of Maguire.
As a youngster, he spent most of his time patrolling the midfield before moving on to mid-adolescence. serving Maguire well.
"I think he's a super talented player," said Southgate.
"His use of the ball is as good as any central defender in the tournament, so I hope he's gaining confidence in the performances at this level."
Maguire started four of England's five games – coming as a halftime substitute in the defeat against Belgium – projecting an air of confidence as the stakes increase.
"I am rather laid-back, rather relaxed, I fell like this and I try to take it" It's great to have a manager who has shown great confidence in me, which gives me confidence too. "
Former defender of England Rio Ferdinand, a member of three World Cup teams, called Maguire" indispensable "in the last clash with Croatia. "He is a man-mountain, but with the ball at his feet he is also graceful," Ferdinand told the BBC.
"Against Sweden, he became someone who is an integral part of this team , someone who is indispensable right now. "
Two years after a humiliating 16-team exit to Iceland, the new group of English brothers is only two victories of football immortality. [19659006It'saperspectivethathasnotreallyfallenyet19659006] "It's been a remarkable two-year period – the rise I've had in the last two years is pretty crazy," he says. admits Maguire
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