Harry Maguire: The remarkable rise of the new unlikely England hero – Football

Harry Maguire traveled to watch England as a fan at Euro 2016, but two years later he is a pillar of defense as the country prepares for its first half. World Cup final in 28 years. -16 promotion in the Premier League, Maguire and a group of friends made the trip to France to see England 0-0 in group stage with Slovakia.

These same friends are now in Russia, but this time the 25- 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 debut in England only 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 contract. five years. It turned out to be a clever move as Maguire, who is 1.94 meters (six feet four inches) tall, played every minute of the Premier League during his first season with the Foxes.

He was rewarded with two Leicester players of the year awards – both players and fans – but his ascent to the unlikely World Cup hero would not have been possible without Gareth Southgate.

The English manager showed great confidence in Maguire while he was preparing a new identity team after succeeding Sam Allardyce in 2016. [19659002"WhenIwatcheditduringtheseasonIwbadoeagertostayinshapebecauseIthoughtitwasasteponwhichhecouldshowthathecouldplay"saidSouthgateafterMaguirescoredhisfirstinternationalgoalinthe2-0quarter-finalvictoryoverSweden

"I I'm not sure that he always believed that, his first match in (Lithuania) which he was talking about was simply desperate to not make mistakes. "

" Chilled out "

The decision Southgate's use of a third trio, as he did to reach the semifinals at Euro 96 and the 1990 World Cup, played in favor of Maguire

. He spent most of his time patrolling the midfield before making the transition to the midfield, while his past experiences serve Maguire well.

"I think he's a super talented player," said Southgate.

"His use of the ball is as good as any central defender of the tournament, so I hope he's gaining confidence in the performances at this level."

Maguire started four of England's five games – coming up 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, so that gives me confidence too. "

The 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 a separate member whole of this indispensable team. For the time being. "

Two years after a humiliating 16-team exit to Iceland, the new group of English brothers is only two victories of the immortality of football. [19659002It'saperspectivethathasnotyetreallysunkin19659002] "It's been two remarkable years – the climb I've experienced in those two years is pretty crazy." , admits Maguire