Harry Maguire has admitted he may never rewatch the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, but the England defender insists the pain can only be overcome by winning a major tournament. The 28-year-old scored his penalty in the shootout at Wembley, yet England fell short in a 3-2 loss on spot-kicks.
Reflecting on the final, Maguire acknowledged England could have been bolder in the second half after taking a first-half lead. 'In hindsight, yes,' he said. 'We gave away a bit too much possession, a little bit too much pressure. We could have been a little bit braver.' He added that Italy did not create clear-cut chances, but England failed to hurt them on the counterattack.
Maguire, who will captain Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United this season, described the Portugal star as 'the greatest player to play the game'. He said Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford will improve the squad both on and off the pitch.
England resume their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday against Hungary in Budapest, followed by matches against Andorra and Poland. Maguire believes the team can harness the positives from the summer, which included reaching a first major final since 1966. 'You play football to create memories and put smiles on people's faces and we certainly did that,' he said.
