What Maguire said on the Rest is Football podcast
Speaking on Gary Lineker's Rest is Football World Cup podcast, Maguire confirmed Tuchel broke the news individually by video call.
He received a text asking to speak at 4pm, then took the call. "He FaceTimed everyone," Maguire said. "It was quite an awkward call... he can see everyone's reactions."
Maguire told Tuchel straightaway he was disappointed, saying he believed he had "done enough to be in the squad." Tuchel's reply, per Maguire: he "can't give an excuse" but had stuck with the four defenders who carried the team through the autumn.
Tuchel's depth chart, in his own words
The omission was no impulse. Back in March, Tuchel laid out a clear pecking order — Maguire was respected but ranked behind a faster, different profile.
| Position vs Maguire | Players named ahead |
|---|---|
| Ahead | Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi |
| Ahead on mobility | Trevoh Chalobah |
| In the picture | John Stones (injury-permitting) |
Tuchel's verdict on Maguire himself: "solid, solid central defender... very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air." But, he added, "I see other players ahead with a different profile."
The selection logic is consistency, not form. Maguire finished the Manchester United season strongly; Tuchel still valued mobility and his autumn core over a like-for-like recall.
Where the Reddit pulse actually lands
The thread reaction is more divided than the headline suggests — and notably not a pile-on against Tuchel's method.
- Several readers defended the FaceTime format as standard and acceptable for a squad-wide cull, one noting a face-to-face visit was never realistic.
- A recurring critique targets Maguire's own move: issuing a statement about missing out before the squad was announced, which some framed as undermining the selection process.
- One commenter flagged a misread in the framing itself — Maguire did not complain about the method; he disputed the decision.
The retirement question — and why it stays open
Maguire was explicit that he will not retire from international duty, even with Tuchel set to lead England into Euro 2028.
"I still feel I have something to offer," he said. "If I got one more cap it would be worth it."
He has wished captain Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jordan Pickford luck for the tournament. The path back is narrow — age and a settled centre-back rotation work against him — but by refusing to walk away, Maguire keeps a 66-cap career formally alive rather than closed.
What people are saying
Several commenters argued Maguire damaged his own cause, pointing to the public statement he issued before the squad was confirmed: > Can’t see him getting called again after putting out the statement about not getting called up before the squad was even announced. Undermined Tuchel and the whole selection process by doing that. It’s understandable he was disappointed but let the squad get announced first. > — u/GameplayerStu ↗
Others defended Tuchel's FaceTime approach as standard practice rather than a slight: > is Tuchel supposed to travel all over England to tell players they’re not getting called up? every time i see announcement videos of players making it it’s either them on the phone (Senesi recently) or their family watching the squad announcement on TV. why would it be any different for those not making it? > — u/mike_jizzraetel ↗
Some pushed back on the framing itself, noting Maguire never criticised how the news was delivered: > Does nobody read anymore? He’s not complained about the method at all, the title just states it as a fact. > — u/WalkingCloud ↗
A strand of replies set the snub in tactical terms, tying it to Tuchel's faster style of play: > Having seen how quickly we’re wanting to move the ball it’s no surprise Maguire wasn’t picked. I’m a big fan of his and his story arc at Utd. However, he dithers with the ball far too much, especially for how Tuchel wants to play. I’m not sure his feet could even move that fast if he wanted to. > — u/Vimjux ↗
