Fans slam Maguire and Phillips after making Gareth Southgate's squad

England fans on social media slam Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips after they made Gareth Southgate’s squad again – despite playing just 863 minutes COMBINED in the Premier League this season

  • Fans on Twitter reacted negatively as Gareth Southgate announced his squad
  • Several asked why Fikayo Tomori, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins missed out 
  • Raheem Sterling is DROPPED by Southgate after struggling for form at Chelsea 

Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips came in for scathing criticism on social media, after they were included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad. 

The pair have been fixtures of the Three Lions boss’ recent teams, but have both struggled for regular minutes all season, with Phillips failing to start a single league game before last weekend. 

And Twitter wasted little time in complaining that both had once again been called up to the squad to take on Malta and North Macedonia. 

Despite reports that the several Manchester City players in the set up would be rested for the upcoming international fixtures, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, John Stones were all picked alongside Phillips. 

Eberechi Eze was rewarded for his fine form with a first senior call up, while Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings and Lewis Dunk were all handed recalls, but Raheem Sterling was left out of the reckoning. 

Gareth Southgate has named his squad to take on Malta and North Macedonia in next month’s games

Harry Maguire’s presence in the side has once again caused a stir among England fans on Twitter

Having made just one start in the league this season Kalvin Phillips’ inclusion also raised eyebrows

One angered fan wrote: ‘Kalvin Phillips and Harry Maguire getting call ups without playing for their clubs is the most Southgate thing.’ 

Another added: ‘Biggest issue with the England squad is that #Southgate will sit there and say ‘Sterling just hasn’t been in the form he needs to be in’ whilst he’s sat next to Harry Maguire….’

A third questioned how Maguire made the squad over AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori, saying: ‘Harry Maguire still ahead of Tomori when he hasn’t played a game in months.’

A fourth echoed the sentiment, arguing: ‘Can’t tell me Fikayo Tomori is so bad you rather pick Harry Maguire who doesn’t play for his club first…’

A fifth claimed that it was typical of Southgate’s squads to include the under fire duo, writing: ‘Maguire over Tomori again? How does Kalvin Phillips still get in this squad for God’s sake? Waistcoat is at it again.’

Another joked that Phillips perhaps had to do very little to impress Southgate enough to merit a spot, writing: ‘Imagine being Kalvin Phillips. Easiest job in the sports world.’

One user simply found the former Leeds star’s inclusion funny, adding: ‘Hahahaha Kalvin Phillips in the squad is a joke.’

An eighth fan believed the decision to keep out Maguire would have been simple, writing: ‘Anyone that knows anything about football knows Harry Maguire has no place on this list.’

Aston Villa pair Jacob Ramsey (left) and Ollie Watkins (centre) were overlooked for the recent squad

Fans questioned why AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori had been left in the cold once more in favour of Maguire

Another pointed at recent Academy Graduate award winner Jacob Ramsey and his team-mate Ollie Watkins – who has been in stunning form since the World Cup – as two players that may have better benefited from a place in the side.

They said: ‘Kalvin Phillips but no Jacob Ramsey or Watkins is criminal by the way.’

And Mail Sport’s Dan Cancian did the maths to work out just how little action Phillips and Maguire have seen so far this season, stating: ‘Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips rewarded for a combined 863 minutes on the pitch in the Premier League this season. 

England will take on Malta and North Macedonia in June as they resume their qualification campaign for next summer’s Euro 2024 tournament, to be held in Germany. 


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