Maguire Shrugs Off Scottish Taunts at Hampden
England defender Harry Maguire faced a hostile Hampden Park crowd on Tuesday but stayed cool as Scots jeered and applauded his every pass with irony. The Manchester United centre-back even suffered the embarrassment of an own goal. Yet Maguire waved it off as “a little bit of banter” he can easily handle.
“It pretty much takes the pressure away from my teammates and puts it all on myself,” Maguire said after the match. “It makes them play better, for sure.”
Southgate Slams ‘Ridiculous’ Maguire Abuse
England boss Gareth Southgate came to Maguire’s defence, branding the taunts “ridiculous” and unfair given the defender’s solid service to the national team. Maguire was key during England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final run and Euro 2020 final appearance.
Despite a dip in form, losing his Manchester United captaincy, and being dropped from the starting XI, Maguire remains a staple in Southgate’s squad. He has endured relentless criticism and boos from fans at both England and United matches, but stays resilient.
Britain Kicks Off Davis Cup with Win over Australia
In tennis, Great Britain launched their Davis Cup Finals campaign with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Australia at Manchester’s AO Arena. Debutant Jack Draper triumphed over Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Dan Evans overcame world number 12 Alex de Minaur.
Britain lost the doubles to Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell, a setback that could impact their hopes of advancing from the group stage. The group also features France and Switzerland, with the top two teams moving on to the knockout rounds in Malaga this November.
Injuries Hit Lionesses Ahead of Nations League
England women’s football faces setbacks as Keira Walsh misses the Women’s Nations League games against Scotland and the Netherlands due to a calf injury. Tottenham’s Bethany England is also sidelined, replaced by Manchester City’s Jess Park.
These bumps are the only changes to Sarina Wiegman’s 24-player Lionesses squad, which features recalls for Lucy Staniforth and Maya Le Tissier. England are still without Grace Houghton, who is out following hip surgery and will miss the start of the Women’s Super League season.
