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Home , Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 15 Maguire never feared for England career despite turbulent year

LONDON: insists he never feared weeks of the season that his importance was fully for his England career after a turbulent year on and appreciated. off the pitch that will see him aim to make amends Ankle ligament damage suffered in May meant against Denmark in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 Maguire missed the Europa League final, which tonight. Just 11 months ago, the Manchester United United lost to Villarreal on a penalty shootout. He captain found himself locked up in a Greek jail for was also a major doubt for the European two days after a post-season holiday went wrong. Championship, but waited on him Maguire, 28, was given a suspended 21-month even though the former Leicester defender was not sentence after being found guilty of assaulting a fit until the third group game. police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and bribery “He picked me to make my debut and then I think during an incident in Mykonos. He always protested ever since I’ve been available I’ve pretty much his innocence and launched an appeal which nulli- played in every game possible,” added Maguire on fies the verdict and means he has no criminal record Southgate’s backing over the past year. “That gives ahead of a full retrial. me great confidence and belief and trust going into BURTON-ON-TRENT: England’s coach Gareth Southgate The incident just days after the end of the the game to enable me to perform to my best. Every arrives to England’s MD-1 training session at St George’s delayed 2019/20 season had consequences that time I step onto the pitch I’m trying to repay the Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England, yesterday on the rolled into the new season. He was dropped for faith and the trust, because every time I go onto the eve of their Euro 2020 semi-final football match against England’s Nations League ties with Iceland and Harry Maguire pitch I want to do my best for the country.” Denmark. — AFP Denmark in September and looked like a man with Maguire followed England as a fan to Euro 2016 the weight of the world on his shoulders even when where their run ended in an embarrassing defeat to he did return from club and country. consecutive clean sheet in the process to set a Iceland. Two years later he was one of the stars of United conceded 12 goals in their opening three national record. the World Cup as England surpassed expectations Game changers: Who games, while his England return in “I never felt for my international career. I always to make the semi-final. Twelve months on, he October saw him sent off for two yellow cards after felt I had something to bring and offer,” said became the world’s most expensive defender when England can turn to in just 31 minutes as Denmark went onto win 1-0 at Maguire on Monday. “Without getting into too United paid £80 million ($111 million) to the Foxes. Wembley thanks to a Christian Eriksen penalty. much detail of what went off in the summer I knew And he believes his greater experience at the The two sides meet again in very different cir- where I stood on behalf of that. I always knew what highest level is reflected throughout a squad filled Denmark semi-final cumstances tonight. Denmark are riding an emo- went off. I’m totally over it, it was a tough time, for with Champions League and Premier League win- tional wave after the shock of seeing Eriksen suffer sure, but I’ve moved on.” ners, who are better equipped to deal with the a cardiac arrest in their opening game. But in stark weight of expectation in the latter stages of a major LONDON: England have eased into their first contrast to their last encounter behind closed doors, Southgate’s ‘trust’ repaid tournament. “I think we are in a much better place European Championship semi-final for 25 years at Euro England will have 60,000 fans on their side and one As Maguire’s form improved, so did United’s as than we were (in 2018). We have had a lot of big 2020 and will face Denmark at Wembley tonight for a of their key players back to his best. they briefly threatened a title challenge early in games in that period to improve on, a lot of time place in the final. Manager Gareth Southgate has been Maguire scored with a bullet header as England 2021 before falling back to finish comfortably spent together on the training pitch and friendlies able to regularly change his team, with a plethora of stormed into the last four with a 4-0 win over second in the Premier League to Manchester and qualifiers. Every game we play together we feel attacking talent at his disposal. Here, AFP Sport takes a Ukraine in Rome on Saturday, registering a seventh City. However, it was in his absence for the final we are going to improve.” — AFP look at five England players who could make an impact off the bench if not named in the starting line-up:

Jack Grealish Damsgaard making The Aston Villa forward has impressed during the tournament despite seeing limited game time. The 25- most of unexpected year-old, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City, set up ’s winner on his only start in the final group game against the Czech Euro 2020 baptism Republic. “This is what I was born to do. I can’t wait,” he said before the last-16 match against Germany, ROME: Thrust into the starting line-up after when he came off the bench to claim another assist, this Christian Eriksen’s near-fatal cardiac arrest, Mikkel time for . He did not feature in the quarter- Damsgaard has emerged as Denmark’s revelation of final thrashing of Ukraine at the Stadio Olimpico, so will Euro 2020, helping his country resurrect a cam- be fresh if called upon by Southgate this week. paign that was almost over before it started. Nicknamed ‘Damsinho’, the gifted Damsgaard, whose flamboyant talent has caught the eye of The 21-year-old enjoyed a stellar season for Europe’s elite, embodies the enthusiasm and deter- Manchester City, scoring 16 goals in all competitions as mination of a Danish team that faces England in Pep Guardiola’s men won the Premier League and tonight’s semi-final at Wembley. reached the Champions League final. Foden was widely “I could never have dreamed of a better birthday tipped to be one of the stars of Euro 2020, but after present. It’s crazy to get to Wembley,” said the starting England’s opening two matches, has not played Sampdoria winger, cited by Danish daily BT, after since. Saturday’s 2-1 quarter-final win over the Czech Republic, on the day of his 21st birthday. “It’s an adventure to be here. Crazy, after everything that When England were struggling to create chances has happened.” Hand-picked by Kasper Hjulmand during the group stage, Southgate was criticised by to rebuild the attack in the absence of Eriksen, pundits and supporters for not giving a chance to Damsgaard is more familiar than most with the Sancho, who made only one late substitute appearance Denmark coach, who handed the Jyllinge-born across the first four games. But he started in Rome on youngster his professional debut at Nordsjaelland Saturday and caught the eye with his dribbling skills in 2017. “He’s a super player,” said Hjulmand. “The and direct style of play. The 21-year-old, who is set to fact that’s he’s been able to throw himself into this leave Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United for 85 and do it on this stage (Euro 2020) is fantastic,” million euros ($100 million) after the tournament, could he told Danish media. be in line to start again in the semi-final.

‘100 percent inspired by Eriksen’ His superb opening goal in the crucial 4-1 group- The Arsenal teenager was a slightly surprising stage win over Russia saw him become Denmark’s selection in the 26-man squad ahead of , youngest scorer at a European Championship. The but has more than played his part in England’s run. Danes scraped through as runners-up of Group B Saka shone against the Czech Republic and then kept despite losing their first two games, and Damsgaard Mikkel Damsgaard his place in the starting line-up for the Germany match, impressed again in the 4-0 thrashing of Wales. only to miss out on the quarter-final with an injury. “He resembles a graduate fresh out of school... Southgate has the luxury of choosing between Foden, but on the big stage at the Euro, he appears like Sampdoria reluctant to sell While under contract until 2024 at Sampdoria, Sancho and Saka for a spot on the right wing against an old, seasoned fighter for the national team, His performances haven’t gone unnoticed either a successful first year in Italy punctuated by a Denmark, with Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and almost like Christian Eriksen in his prime,” wrote in Italy, where Damsgaard made steady progress surprise breakout display at the Euro has already all likely to start. BT. Like the midfielder, Damsgaard is this season under Claudio Ranieri at Sampdoria. He drawn interest from big clubs, including AC Milan. technically adept, strong with both feet and pos- played 35 times in Serie A, scoring twice and adding But he will have to bide his time at Sampdoria, sesses great vision. four assists, no mean feat in a league where it can who are reluctant to let go of a player bought for The most experienced player on this list is the only “I have been inspired by him, 100 percent,” he be hard for youngsters to settle. six million euros from Nordsjaelland a year ago. one yet to make a start at Euro 2020, although the told Danish news agency Ritzau. “He is one of the “Ranieri has been crucial in accelerating my “How much is he worth? I don’t know because winger is carrying foot and shoulder injuries and is players I have watched the most. I really looked up adaptation to Italian football,” Damsgaard said in he’s not for sale. I am keeping a tight hold of him expected to undergo surgery following the tournament. to him when I was younger and played more like a an interview with Sportweek magazine in February. and we’ll help him to develop because I want to Rashford, who has scored 12 goals in 45 internation- number 10, just like him.” Damsgaard though is “I needed to make the step up by playing more get to the amount he’s worth, between 30 and 50 al appearances, could still have a significant part to quick to point out the two play different roles, competitive football than the Danish league... and I million. He’s a pure talent,” said Sampdoria presi- play in England’s bid to win a first European title, explaining: “I’m a bit more on the wing and in attack have to say that it matched my expectations, I dent Massimo Ferrero, in a bid to ward off poten- despite playing 57 times for Manchester United in a than him.” needed that.” tial suitors. — AFP grueling season. — AFP