Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has correctly predicted that one Euro 2024 nation will “miss” the influence of an important Red Devils player this summer.
Patrice Evra has spoken out on Euro 2024 in Germany and already warned the tournament favourites to not underestimate one team at the competition.
The former Manchester United defender has also identified the one player who has a “major role” to play for his country and could lead their nation to victory at Euro 2024.
Euro 2024 officially started last week and host nation Germany kicked off their campaign with a 5-1 steamrolling of Scotland in their Group A opener.
Joining Germany among the Euro 2024 favourites are England, who secured a 1-0 win over Serbia in their Group C opener thanks to Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
Portugal are also tipped to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy this summer and Roberto Martinez’s men will be in action against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
France, who Evra represented on the international stage, will begin their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday evening against Ralf Rangnick’s Austria side in Group D.
Evra on missing Man Utd star at Euro 2024
Manchester United players have been called up by their respective countries to represent them at Euro 2024 and the 2024 Copa America in the United States.
However, not all players from the first-team squad will be in action for their countries this summer, which includes Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire.
Marcus Rashford was left out of the England squad for Euro 2024 after the United star underwhelmed during the 2023-24 season for the Red Devils.
Harry Maguire, on the other hand, was forced to withdraw from the England camp in March due to injury before not being selected for the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 squad.
Evra argued that Maguire’s absence from the England squad would be felt and believes Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate should have taken him to the Euros.
“But I think, and I’ll be honest and not because as a United legend, Harry Maguire will be a big miss for England,” he said, as per Firstpost.
“You can mark my words. I think people sometimes are confused. He has had not some good performance when he was playing with Man United.
“He [Maguire] has had not [sic] some good performances when he was playing with Man United.
“And I know his exclusion is related to an injury. But it will be difficult for Maguire to understand that when Luke Shaw [is] also still on the squad despite nursing an injury.
“As for players like Jack Grealish, they can make the difference. We can talk also about Marcus Rashford.
“But when the manager picks his team, everyone has to be behind him. And we don’t know the inside story around the injury or whatever. But I’m convinced that England will miss Maguire.”
Evra correctly called England’s Maguire mistake
England might have won their Group C opener against Serbia, but it was far from a convincing result for Gareth Southgate’s men.
The Three Lions weathered a hard-fought attack from Serbia in the second half and England did appear vulnerable at times in the backline.
Southgate has had to turn to Marc Guehi in the absence of Harry Maguire and partnered the Crystal Palace defender alongside John Stones.
Maguire had been Southgate’s preferred pick to play alongside John Stones and the former United captain has been a key player for the Three Lions boss.
The 31-year-old United defender has been capped 63 times for England, while Marc Guehi has only managed 12 appearances for the Three Lions.
Maguire’s absence for the Serbia match was visible and Southgate’s side appeared exposed during the waves of attacks that they faced in the match.
Former England defender Danny Rose even said ahead of the Serbia match that Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk would be a better fit ahead of Guehi.
“I think the natural one would probably be Lewis Dunk for me,” he told Mirror Football’s YouTube channel.
“When you are talking about physicality in terms of size and build to Maguire in the 2018 World Cup, set pieces were massive for England.
“Maguire scored when he was out there, so again I think Dunk fits that mould perfectly.
“Kyle [Walker] would be an option but if he’s in any of my squads, he’s nailed down to play right-back every day of the week for me.”