Harry Maguire responded to the Scotland fans who cheered him after scoring an own goal for England on Tuesday night.
The Manchester United defender continues to split opinion but few would doubt the ball he put through his own net to give the Tartan Army came in unfortunate circumstances.
Maguire, who replaced Marc Guehi at half-time at Hampden Park, attempted to cut out Andy Robertson’s cross, though ultimately knocked the ball past Aaron Ramsdale into the England net.
Out of the first-team picture at Old Trafford and removed as club captain, the 30-year-old’s regular inclusion in the Three Lions set-up is the subject of intense scrutiny.
Cheered and goaded by the home supporters after the goal and before Harry Kane restored England’s two-goal cushion, Maguire responded on social media, captioning an Instagram post: “‘Enjoyable camp with the lads – always a pleasure representing my country. Everywhere they goooo”, in reference to the song England fans sing about their rivals.
The defender has been a crucial part of Gareth Southgate’s rebuild, playing impressive roles at two World Cups and a European Championships since making his debut in 2017.
Southgate launched an impassioned defence of Maguire after the game, describing the criticism of him as “ridiculous” and “a joke”.
“From a Scotland fans’ point of view I get it, I have no absolutely no complaints of what they did,” he said.
“It is a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time, frankly, and I think our fans recognised, ‘ok there might be a bit of heat from our own supporters but we are not going to have it from others getting into him.’ But it is a joke.
“I have never known a player to be treated the way he is, not from the Scottish fans, by our own commentators, pundits, whatever it is, they have created something that is beyond anything I have ever seen.
“He has been an absolute stalwart for us in the second most successful English team for decades, he has been an absolutely key part of that. I have talked about the importance of our senior players, he has been crucial amongst that and every time he goes on the field the resilience he shows, the balls he shows is absolutely incredible, so he is a top player and we are all with him.
“Our fans were brilliant with him tonight. I feel fairly strongly about it yes.
“He is good, he is great, we have had a good win and he was a big part of that. He has fronted up as he always does which is enormous credit to his character.”
