England are one step away from making history and winning their first-ever Euros trophy, with Spain standing in their way in the final.
1966 World Cup was the last time the English won a major tournament but under Gareth Southgate, they’ve come as close as any previous iteration of the squad but ultimately came up short.
They will have another crack at glory and they will have done so without one of their most important players in Harry Maguire.
Maguire is a Gareth Southgate favourite who had made the preliminary squad but couldn’t pass the fitness test to make the final team.
However, he has now shown what made him such a leadership figure in the Three Lions camp with a classy message to the players ahead of the final.
Harry Maguire’s classy message
Maguire took to Instagram to send a stirring message to his would-be teammates had he not failed the fitness test to make the squad.
In the message, he said: “Time to make history. Go and win it lads. Good luck to everyone at the FA, Gareth, my teammates and all the fans. Nights like these don’t come around often, enjoy it.”
Maguire’s insistence on players enjoying the occasion since it doesn’t come around often holds a lot of weight since he has experienced those himself.
He was a crucial member of the team that went all the way to the finals of the last Euros, eventually losing on penalties to Italy.
Maguire was also a key player of the England squad which lost in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, the tournament which elevated the status of both, Maguire and Southgate.
He can’t be with the players on the pitch today but he had made sure to register his support, hoping they can go one step better than he did in the last Euros.
Maguire’s exemplary attitude
Regardless of where fans, of Manchester United or England, stand on Maguire’s ability and form, the player’s way of conducting himself has always been faultless.
It is why he has managed to come back in from the cold every time at United and remained a key figure for England even when he was struggling at Old Trafford.
Even now, when his contract expires next year and the club already tried to sell him last summer, Maguire went the extra mile to be ready for United’s pre-season.
In a squad that has often been lambasted for being unprofessional and throwing managers under the bus, the center-back has emerged with credit to his name every time.
His future at United still remains under a cloud but for the final, everything will be in the background as his teammates chase England’s first glory is nearly 60 years.
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