Harry Maguire impresses on return to England team as the Three Lions beat Ireland 2-0 | OneFootball

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire produced a superb display for England as they beat Ireland 2-0 in their opening Nations League group game.

First-half strikes from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish are all England needed to sink Ireland and make themselves group leaders.

Maguire – after missing Euro 2024 with an injury setback – was named in the starting XI by Lee Carsley and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

The United man was part of a four-man backline also consisting of Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

During the time he was on the pitch, Maguire made three clearances. He put in two tackles and registered as many interceptions.

The 31-year-old delved into two ground duels and came out on top once. He contested four challenges in the air and unsurprisingly won all four duels.

He had 73 touches of the ball to his name and successfully found his teammates with 57 of the 67 passes he put in, managing an individual pass completion rate of 85%.

Maguire connected with just one of the four long balls he pinged. He was replaced in the 85th minute by Manchester City’s John Stones.

Maguire was not the only United player representing England. Kobbie Mainoo – after an excellent Euros campaign – slotted right next to Rice in the middle of the park.

The Carrington academy graduate, as has become the norm with him, put in a near-flawless display.

Mainoo touched the ball 86 times and had an individual pass accuracy of 92%. He embarked on three dribbles, completing two of them.

He contested five ground duels and two in the air. He won two of his challenges on the ground and just one aerial contest.

The teenager made one clearance.

(Stats obtained from Sofascore)

England’s next assignment will see them host Finland at Wembley on Tuesday, 10 September.

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