27/03/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | MAR 27, 2025

30

Maguire still on Tuchel’s mind

Ű BY SIMON PEACH

messages to wish us good luck, so you see what a person he is, a top guy. He will always be in contention.” Maguire will be among those hoping to be involved in June, when a World Cup qualifier on the road against Andorra is followed by a friendly with Senegal at the City Ground. Those games come between the Champions League final and Club World Cup in an “awkward” June international window that Tuchel thinks Fifa should look at as more and more is asked of players. “I am not so concerned about the amount of games the players play in total,” he said. “I am more concerned that they never have a real break of three to four weeks.” – The Independent

THOMAS TUCHEL says Harry Maguire will “always be in contention” for England despite overlooking the Manchester United defender for his first camp in charge. The 32-year-old was a key part of Sir Gareth Southgate’s set-up despite enduring some difficult spells at club level, playing in three major tournaments before missing last summer’s Euros through injury. Maguire only won two caps in 2024 and was not selected for Tuchel’s first matches in charge of England as the defender dealt with an issue sustained at the start of March. “I spoke to everyone who was not nominated and was on the (long) list,” the head coach said

which we have to take care in the first training, second training and constantly need to assess if he can do full training session, half training session. “We did the same with Reece James and only for the feedback that he can do every session full was the reason that we brought him into camp. “Harry knows that. It’s not so easy at the moment for him in the club. He plays in a back three on top of it but, listen, he’s a top professional, he’s very important, he was very important for England. “He took it unbelievably well. He wrote me

when asked about the 64-cap defender. “I spoke to all of them to give them my direct feedback, why this is. It was a close decision. “We chose Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa. At the moment I think they are a little bit in a better rhythm and deserve to be with us, so two right footers in central defence and the rest was left footers in central defence.” Asked if he viewed Maguire as being fit, Tuchel said: “Yeah, but the second reason was that he was not fit when we did the nomination. “It was presumed that he can play but I didn’t want to take the risk to nominate a player in

Dragons’ late escape Bellamy never gave up hope as Brooks saves Wales

26/03/2025 (WED)

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Draw Date: 26/03/25 (Wed)

Draw No: 5891/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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0836 1526 2198 DRAGON

RM257,363.90

Wales’ Nathan Broadhead (right) in action with North Macedonia’s Enis Bardhi yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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Ű BY PHIL BLANCHE

753 028 + BOAR

two games. Group J favourites Belgium will start their schedule in June due to their involvement in the Nations League play-offs this month. Bellamy said of the prized point: “It could be a very precious one. “But I feel probably on the performance, I think the way I looked at the game, I think we needed three. “It could turn out to be an important point, but time will tell. “We know in international football, chances can be limited at times but we had our big chances as well. On reflection of the game, maybe we needed to take three.” Brennan Johnson went closest to breaking the deadlock for Wales when his effort was cleared off the line by Visar Musliu. Allen was sent on six minutes from time to help Wales win a game they had dominated in possession, territory and scoring opportunities. But his back pass intended for Joe Rodon was intercepted by Miovski and brutally punished, although Bellamy insisted the veteran Swansea midfielder was not to blame for his aberration. Bellamy said: “I know people will say it is Joe Allen’s mistake, but I ask him to play in this way. I demand it. But then watch his reaction, able to get on the ball and not hide. “Any young players in the squad, and we do have a lot, see an example of the outstanding footballer that he is. “I’m happy for him (that Wales equalised) because he’s helped me out so much. I hope they build a statue for him one day.” – the Independent

C RAIG BELLAMY praised his Wales players for their never-say-die attitude after David Brooks struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time to earn a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against North Macedonia. Brooks squeezed home fellow substitute Kieffer Moore’s knockdown just as Wales appeared to be spinning to a shock defeat at the Tose Proeski Arena in Skopje. North Macedonia – ranked 67th in the world and 38 places below Wales – had stunned Bellamy’s side in the first minute of added time after Bojan Miovski pounced on a Joe Allen error to beat Karl Darlow. “If I look at the game, we were in control but football can find a cruel way sometimes,” Bellamy said after his unbeaten start as Wales manager extended to eight games in the most dramatic of circumstances. “I thought maybe it was meant to be for them today but then when you see a group of players ready, it just didn’t feel like it was over for me. “Maybe because I haven’t suffered defeat in a short reign, but I still felt there was something more. “To watch it then happen was like ‘Wow’ but, at the same time, to come away with a point actually leaves me disappointed. “Even now, I’m not calm. I thought it would have been difficult to accept losing today.” Wales and North Macedonia both won their opening qualifiers at the weekend – against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein respectively – and have four points from

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