Gareth Southgate backs Maguire to come through ‘difficult period’

Gareth Southgate had earlier on enjoyed a successful week, with victories over Wales and Belgium, but this was a sorrow performance by his England squad, with Maguire summing up the collapse mood.

The England defender was dropped by Southgate from the national team last month following his arrest and court case in Greece. Maguire, the 27-year-old was sent off after just half an hour for two after a hard foul on Denmark’s Kasper Dolberg.

Maguire could have no argument with either booking and Southgate has backed him to come through this tough period,

Saying “he has been getting all sorts (of criticism) for a while from people who should know better”.

Asked to clarify those comments, the England boss said: “No, I don’t think it needs elaborating on.

“But he’s having a difficult period and in these periods you learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about other people. You learn who’s there for you in those difficult times. He’ll come through it, he’ll be a better player and a stronger man for it.

“He knows there will be criticism after this, and you have to accept that. To go down to 10 men is costly for the team, but we fully back him, we fully support him.

“He’s been a top player and is a top player for us. He’ll come through it. He showed on Sunday why we think so much of him with his performance against Belgium. He’ll get through this period and he’ll be back to his best.”

Soon after, Kyle Walker was controversially adjudged to have fouled Thomas Delaney and Denmark’s midfielder Christian Eriksen, on his 100th international appearance, he also scored from the penalty spot.

England boss Southgate was unlucky with players with injury on international duty as he was already without defenders Kieran Trippier and Ben Chilwell when Tottenham’s Eric Dier pulled out before the game with an injury.