Alan Shearer has raised questions after Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were excluded from England's squad for the 2026 World Cup finals.
On 22 May 2026, Alan Shearer, legendary striker of Newcastle United, who has now become a football pundit, expressed doubts after Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, the two key defenders of Manchester United, were shockingly left out of England's squad for the 2026 World Cup finals, surprising fans.
Shearer gave a detailed comment: "Luke Shaw's absence is somewhat understandable given his recurring injuries over recent seasons. Although he's improved a lot this year, what about Harry Maguire? Is this a joke? What is Thomas Tuchel thinking?"
"Who is better than Maguire right now? Tell me honestly. Whenever England needs a defender to help in defense, win aerial duels, organize the backline, and fight for club and country, Harry Maguire is always there. People mock and criticize him, but no matter the pressure, he always stands firm. Football is about performance, consistency, character, and experience. Like it or not, Harry Maguire provides all of these."
"You can't tell me there is any English central defender playing better than him right now. It's impossible. At Manchester United, every time he plays, you see leadership, aggression, and calmness. Excluding him from England's World Cup squad? To me, that's a huge risk. In tournament football, you need warriors, leaders, players with personality. Harry Maguire has proven this many times for England. I truly don't understand this decision."