Marc Guehi has hailed the impact made by England defensive colleague Harry Maguire both on and off the pitch.
Maguire has fallen out of favour at Manchester United and was goaded by Scotland fans after coming off the bench and scoring an own goal in England’s 3-1 win at Hampden Park last month.
Despite losing both the United captaincy and his place in Erik ten Hag’s side, the 30-year-old centre-back has retained the faith of international boss Gareth Southgate.
Maguire revealed ahead of the upcoming friendly clash with Australia that former England captain David Beckham had been in touch after the mockery north of the border.
Team-mates have also rallied around the former Leicester defender and Guehi – who Maguire replaced at half-time in Glasgow – was the latest to praise his contribution.
“He is a top professional, a great guy to have around the camp, one of the leaders,” he told BBC Radio 5Live.
“I think people forget things very quickly, but he was Manchester United captain, someone who has played for England at many, many top competitions and has helped the team and the nation to get where they are today.
“So, let’s not forget what he has done in a hurry because he is definitely a top player and an even better person for sure.”
Guehi has partnered Maguire at the heart of Southgate’s defence in two of the last three Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The 23-year-old Crystal Palace defender has worn the armband for England at youth level, but is still aiming to improve as a leader.
“I am very wary of my limitations of a leader I would say,” he said.
“I think I have a lot of qualities, but there is definitely a lot of things that I can get better at and definitely will get better at.
“Every day is a learning process, learning from the players around me, learning from coaches and try and improve those leadership qualities every day.
“You can’t always be perfect. I am definitely aware of that myself. I see them in myself every day, but they are definitely things I want to work at. I know I am getting better at them as long as I keep working on them each day.”
Asked what he felt he needed to work on, Guehi added: “Sometimes I can be frustrated, which is human nature and trying to work on that and trying not to show as much as possible, because I think when you are a leader people feed off that.
“If they see you are frustrated that can allow them to be frustrated. So, trying to stay as calm as possible in the toughest of situations, I would say that is definitely one of those.”
Pochettino appointed new United States head coach
Mauricio Pochettino has officially been appointed as the United States' new head coach following the departure of Gregg Berhalter.
Berhalter was fired after overseeing a miserable home campaign at the Copa America, where a shock defeat to Panama sent the USA crashing out in the group stage.
Pochettino was quickly reported to be a surprise contender for the role, having left Chelsea following a single season in charge.
The Argentine – who previously enjoyed a successful five-year spell in charge of Tottenham, leading them to the 2018-19 Champions League final – oversaw a sixth-placed Premier League finish in his only campaign at Stamford Bridge.
He has now agreed to lead the USA into a home World Cup in 2026, as they prepare to co-host the tournament alongside neighbours Canada and Mexico.
Pochettino told the U.S. Soccer website: "The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn't just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on.
"The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me.
"The opportunity to lead the U.S. men's national team in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players is something I couldn't pass up.
"I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of."
Pochettino's first game in charge will be a friendly versus Panama at the Q2 Stadium in Austin on October 12, with a meeting with Mexico scheduled three days later.
"Hiring Mauricio is a step forward in our mission to compete at the highest level and make a lasting mark on the global soccer landscape," said U.S. Soccer chief executive JT Batson.
"His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent, and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
"Mauricio understands the unique potential of this team and this country, and he shares our belief that U.S. Soccer is on the cusp of something truly special."
Bellamy earns maiden Wales win in 'toughest game of his career'
Craig Bellamy praised his players for overcoming some of the toughest conditions he has witnessed to earn him his first win as Wales head coach against Montenegro in the Nations League.
Kieffer Moore opened the scoring after just 36 seconds at the Stadion Kraj Bistrice, with Wales netting inside a minute for the first time since Robert Earnshaw in 2004.
But the Dragons doubled their advantage with two minutes and 27 seconds on the clock, this time Harry Wilson found the back of the net with a fine finish from distance.
It was the first time Wales had scored twice within the opening three minutes of a game since April 1961 against Northern Ireland to give Bellamy a dream start.
However, the conditions in Montenegro were far from ideal, with the rain-soaked pitch allowing Driton Camaj to pull one back for the hosts in the 73rd minute.
Wales were able to see out the remaining minutes to seal their first win of their Nations League campaign, building on their impressive showing against Turkiye.
"These are the toughest conditions I've been in. Nothing about coming here has been easy," Bellamy said.
"You could have had a lot of excuses about this trip. The change of venue, the travel here, a bus driver who took his time, the conditions. But sometimes you learn from it.
"There is a reason why this group have qualified for major tournaments. It wasn't a football match. The conditions weren't going to allow it."
Wales are now unbeaten in their last eight competitive fixtures (W4 D4), their longest such run since a run of 11 between September 2019 and November 2020.
Bellamy's appointment has seemingly revitalised Welsh football, with his expansive and exciting style of play catching the eyes of those across Europe.
The Dragons return to action next month when they face Iceland and Montenegro once again, something that Bellamy is already counting down the days for.
"Last night I was really excited about the game but also sad as it ends tomorrow," Bellamy said.
"What happens on Tuesday? They're all going to leave me and I don't want them to go.
"You want your first win of course and you want it quick. Longer-term I see us being able to affect games in a positive way."
France 2-0 Belgium: Dembele leads Les Bleus back to winning ways
Ousmane Dembele starred for France as Didier Deschamps' side overcame their opening day defeat to Italy with a 2-0 triumph over Belgium in the Nations League.
Randal Kolo Muani handed the hosts the advantage in the first half, with a moment of individual brilliance from Dembele rounding off a dominant display in Lyon.
France's much-changed side struggled in the opening exchanges, as Dodi Lukebakio and Kevin De Bruyne fired the early warning signs to the hosts.
But Les Bleus' slow start improved and they took the lead in the 29th minute after Dembele's scuffed effort was parried into the path of Kolo Muani to smash home, despite the best efforts of Wout Faes on the line.
From then on, Domenico Tedesco's side failed to lay a glove on their opponents, with Belgium ending the first half with two shots compared to France's 12.
The triumph was sealed by a moment of magic, with N'Golo Kante laying the ball to Dembele, who drove at the Red Devils defence before rifling a fierce left-footed effort beyond the grasp of Koen Casteels.
There was also a moment of history made in the 79th minute, with Matteo Guendouzi leaving the field to be replaced by Antoine Griezmann to claim his 137th French cap, going joint-third on their all-time list alongside Olivier Giroud.
Data Debrief: PSG(oals)
Each of France's last five goals, excluding own goals, have now been scored by players under contract at Paris Saint-Germain, the longest such run by the Les Bleus since between June and August 2003.
Dembele was a particular standout for the hosts, producing the most shots (four), shots on target (two) and touches in the opposition box (nine), with his 19 passes into the final third a total only bettered by Manu Kone (22).
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