Harry Maguire: England stronger now than during run to World Cup semi-finals

Harry Maguire has set his sights on Euro glory after declaring himself fit to start against Scotland tomorrow.

The centre-back insists England are more prepared to go all the way than they were at the World Cup three years ago.

The Three Lions exceeded expectations in Russia by reaching the semi-finals, where they were beaten by Croatia in extra time.

Maguire claims the addition of talents such as Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips has boosted England's chances of going even further than the last four.

He said: "As a group of players we are in a better place. The group is really exciting — lots of talent, lots of technical ability and a lot of experience.

"We will take the experience from the World Cup and, if we get to the knockout stage, we can use that experience to our advantage.

"These games are decided on big moments and we have to make sure we are prepared to be in those situations to take the big moments."

Maguire, who has not played since damaging ankle ligaments against Aston Villa on May 9, is in contention to start at Wembley.

He added: "I'm not going to say there's no one as good as us, but we've got to look after ourselves. We're not really looking ahead of the group stages, so we're only focused on the two games we've got. When we get a knockout game, we'll focus on the team we're going to play."

Euro 2020 - England Training
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The 28-year-old has recovered ahead of schedule from a high ankle strain, with England's medical team confident there is no risk in Gareth Southgate naming him from the start.

Maguire admitted he feared missing out on the Euros following his injury, which ruled him out of United's Europa League Final against Villarreal.

Southgate was prepared to give him every chance to make the tournament, with Maguire convincing his manager he would have a role to play.

"I knew the extent of the injury as soon as I got injured," he said. "It was going to be serious because it didn't come from impact or contact. It was a twist straight away so there would be some sort of ligament damage.

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Denmark v Finland - UEFA Euro 2020: Group B
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"You fear the worst. I feared missing the Europa League Final and then the Euros as well. I managed to make this squad, but I wasn't able to make the Europa League Final. I'm here now and ready to go.

"I feel good. I've been training now. The injury was a setback club football-wise. Internationally, I wanted to come into this with a lot of games under my belt with full fitness, but I feel good.

"I'm back available, been training and I'm looking forward to it. I always told him [Southgate] I felt I would always have a part to play, whether it's on the pitch or off the pitch.

"I always felt within myself I would be fit at some part of the group stage. I didn't know when. We are going well, we are on the right path. Every day I get more confidence."

Maguire is prepared to play through the pain barrier to help England triumph. "Throughout a career in football, if you didn't play through pain you would probably spend more time on the sidelines than you would on the football pitch," he said.

"I have done it throughout my career and so has everyone else who plays week in, week out. The thing for me is I haven't had an ankle injury before, so I couldn't gauge the pain or stability. That is down to the physios.

"We firmly believe that it [his ankle] is in a good place stability-wise, and when it is a good place stability-wise, that is the priority. I don't feel like there is any risk. With any injury you are coming back from, recurrences don't very often happen, but they can.

"You can come back and I could pick up another injury in another part of my body, so I think the risk of playing and picking up an injury is just there when you play competitive football.

"In terms of the ankle, it's stable and I feel like I'm ready to go. I feel fit and fresh."

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