Harry Maguire says England’s players feel like they “have to win this tournament” in Qatar – a sea change in the team’s mindset from the last World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s men prepare for a quarter-final against reigning champions France on Saturday at the Al Bayt Stadium, where the winner will return to the semi-finals.
Portugal or Morocco will be waiting at the stage England reached in Russia four years ago, having exceeded expectations in a stunning run that ended in a long-overdue defeat to Croatia.
Southgate’s side suffered a disappointing run in last year’s European Championship final and Maguire believes they can go one step further in Qatar.
Maguire says England ‘really believe’ they can win this year’s World Cup in Qatar
Asked if it was difficult not to lie in bed thinking about how it would feel to lift the World Cup, he said: “Maybe, yes.
“I think that’s the one thing that I would say that’s really different about the 2018 team at this club – I think we believe it’s possible.
“I played in 2018 and we got to the semi-final and I think a lot of the guys were happy. You were happy to be in the semi-final.
“You know whatever happened in that semi-final you go home and you’re the hero and everyone’s patting you on the back.
“I think now there is a belief that we can win this tournament. It’s a good change of mind.
“Of course, we know how difficult it can be. I think there are five or six groups that believe in the same thing.
“But in 2018, maybe we weren’t one of the teams that had that belief. Now there are five or six that have that belief and we’re one of them.”
That belief is showing on the pitch, where Maguire feels England are controlling the game better and approaching the opposition with a forward-thinking attitude.
Maguire: Last year was tough
Ideology and belief have helped on a team and individual level, with the 29-year-old defender impressing in a game that many onlookers felt he shouldn’t have had.
Maguire struggled for game time and form at Manchester United, but the England defender impressed in Qatar and says his confidence has not wavered.
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“I don’t read much to be honest,” he said.
“You pick up cracks and bobs and maybe my family reads things better than me. I tell them not to be on (social media), but maybe they don’t because it’s a habit for a lot of people these days.
“So, no, I read a bit with bobs, but I’m 29, captain of Man Utd and I’ve played 52 games for my country.
“So, when I look back on my career and put everything in perspective, if I was a young boy then I’m living a dream. I’m doing everything I wanted to do.
“So, where I am now, the next step in my career is to start winning trophies.
“Last year was difficult, and I didn’t play as well as I have in the last five years at a high level.
“But I think that during the work period it is probably Lionel Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo) who are the only two who are not late for work.
“It’s a 15-year career if you’re lucky, there’s no real way, especially in the assessment of the defenders these days, you don’t have dips.
“I’ll have another one too, but that’s how you bounce back, how you bounce back from them. You have to stay strong and keep faith in yourself.”
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England star Marcus Rashford has insisted that he is more concerned with the team’s performance than individual success at the World Cup in Qatar.
Maguire is grateful for the unwavering support of manager Southgate and his team-mates, who appear to have taken turns to praise the centre-back at the World Cup.
He is not only impressing on the pitch in Qatar but also in the team hotel, where he excelled at playing ‘wolf’ – a card game based on eliminating liars and making them believe.
“I’m good at psychology, to be honest – I should have finished last year,” the defender said with a laugh.
Maguire played for Leicester and says “the more you play, the more you see”, adding “you see what people are doing, how they are doing”.
The game will help the group to cooperate and allow him to rely on skills that have become important in everyday life.
“I think especially being in my position, it’s very important to know who you can trust,” he added.
“You build relationships in your job and I feel like I know now who I can talk to, who I can trust and I have a lot of people I trust. It’s true.”
