Gary Lineker made an awkward moment with Harry Maguire even more uncomfortable on Netflix's The Rest is Football — just as it emerged England manager Thomas Tuchel had won a separate battle with Fifa over photographers blocking his view during the national anthems.
Maguire, omitted from the World Cup squad in May, was a studio guest after England's 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. The presenting team heaped praise on Tuchel for his tactics and game-changing substitutions. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said: "His substitutions were really refreshing for me. They were really positive at a really sticky time of the game. He could have gone really defensive but he went: 'No, I'm not having none of that.'"
“Gary Lineker awkwardly questioned Harry Maguire about England's win while Tuchel won a Fifa battle over photographers blocking his anthem view.”
Lineker then turned to Maguire and asked: "Did it start to make sense, the way England played today, perhaps some of the people who have been omitted?" He quickly added: "With one exception!" — an apparent attempt to spare Maguire's feelings. The Leicester City icon had previously expressed his shock and disappointment in a social media post in May, saying: "I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I've had. I've been left shocked and gutted by the decision."
The win itself was Tuchel's first as a World Cup manager, but he revealed the occasion — particularly the emotion of the national anthems — was spoiled. "I could not see my team," Tuchel said. "It was a very special moment, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience."
The temporary pitch at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, had to be raised 1.2m (4ft) to fit a football pitch, leaving limited space along the sidelines. After taking on board feedback from Tuchel and others, Fifa altered its policy. Photographers may now be grouped in a huddle, potentially nearer the halfway line, and coaching staff are permitted to move left or right for an unobstructed view. The new approach was deployed for the first time during Thursday's Group A match between Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta.
However, it remains unclear whether these changes will assuage Tuchel's concerns. BBC Sport understands that the Football Association is still awaiting discussions with football's world governing body over the issue.