HARRY MAGUIRE has slated the referee’s performance, after England crashed out to France in the World Cup.
The Three Lions lost 2-1 to the world champions in Qatar in a tightly contested game, and can feel hard done by with some of the referee’s decisions.
In the build up to France’s opener from Aurelien Tchouameni, Gareth Southgate’s side felt they should have had a free kick on Bukayo Saka.
Later on in the first half, there was a penalty shout reviewed by VAR after Harry Kane appeared to be tripped – but nothing was given.
After the game, Man Utd star Maguire questioned Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio’s performance.
He said: “I can’t really explain his performance – the number of decisions he got wrong was actually incredible. Really poor.”
Despite their exit, Kane and Co were the better team in the contest.
And Maguire believes that England have shown that they are a more consistent big tournament team.
Maguire continued: “I’m really proud of the lads, we have given everything. This is tournament football with big moments win big matches. and I felt we were the better team throughout the night, we controlled the game from minute one. They scored from 30 yards and were clinical with the second one.
“We had a lot of chances and dominated the possession. We have showed over a four or five-year period no that we belong in these big games.
“The lads are going to be hurt and disappointed but I really believe that this country has turned the corner now and we belong on this stage, in the late stages of these knockout tournaments.
“If we can take anything from the game our performance shows that.”
France may have gone into the game as slight favourites, but Maguire revealed England’s camp were confident they could have gone all the way in the tournament.
He said: “We fully believed that we would win the game. We had great belief in our dressing room that we would win the tournament and that’s not arrogance.
“We had started to control games, which we hadn’t done in the past so we had a great opportunity to win the tournament. It really does hurt but these players will get another opportunity.”
After the defeat, boss Southgate’s future has become a topic of conversation and whether he will continue in his role.
He has come under a lot of stick for his selections in the past, but Maguire said Maguire has the backing of his players.
“From one to eleven, the players absolutely love Gareth. He has been amazing with each and every one of us,” he said.
“I know a lot of people have different opinions and when he picks his team he gets a lot of stick but you can see how far this team has come over his period of management.
“He knows what it takes to win these big matches. The performance was there but we lacked a little bit of clinicalness.”
England will feel hard done by following their exit from competition.
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After equalising in the second half from a Kane penalty, they fell behind to a Olivier Giroud header.
Kane had the opportunity to score from the spot late on to potentially take the game into extra-time, however he blazed over from 12-yards and England’s hopes had faded.
