Matt Oldfield - Maguire (Ultimate Football Heroes--International Edition)--includes the World Cup Journey!

Cosmos Arena, Samara, 7 July 2018

What a massive moment it was for Gareth Southgates young England team they were about to play in the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals! As the players arrived at the Cosmos Arena, however, they looked happy and relaxed. Harry Maguire had a particularly big smile on his face. Why not? He was in fantasy land!

In Summer 2014, Harry had just finished seventh in League One with his hometown club, Sheffield United.

In Summer 2015, he had just been relegated from the Championship, while on loan at Wigan Athletic.

In Summer 2017, he had just been relegated from the Premier League with Hull City.

But now, in Summer 2018, Harry was an international footballer, starring for England at the World Cup!

The tournament had already been a big success for the team. They had beaten Tunisia, they had thrashed Panama and best of all, they had finally won a World Cup penalty shoot-out, against Colombia. Could they now go all the way and win the trophy? The players believed, and the fans believed too. England had gone football crazy once again!

Its coming home, its coming home,

Its coming, FOOTBALLS COMING HOME!

Every player was now a national hero, from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford all the way through to goal machine Harry Kane.

But perhaps the biggest heroes of all were Southgates all-Yorkshire back three. Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker were both from Sheffield, while John Stones was born nearby in Barnsley. Kyle brought the speed, John brought the brains, and Harry brought the strength.

Each of them brought their own skill. Together, they formed a deadly defensive team. They were brilliant at the back, but also awesome in attack!

Harry was absolutely buzzing by the time the players arrived in the dressing room. After all, it wasnt every day that he got to play in a World Cup quarter-final! Sweden would be tough opponents but the new England were fearless. If they played well, they could beat anyone.

But wait, there was a problem! As Harry pulled on his red 6 MAGUIRE shirt, it didnt fit. At six feet four, he was a big guy who needed a big shirt.

Especially with that Slabhead of yours! his England and Leicester teammate, Jamie Vardy, was always joking.

Cheers, Vards! Unfortunately for Harry, that nickname stuck. Now, lots of his teammates called him Slabhead too.

With minutes to go before kick-off, the Englands kit man, Pat, rushed off to print his name and number on a bigger shirt.

Some players might have panicked in that nerve-wracking situation, but not Harry. That wasnt his style. He was a laid-back lad, both on and off the pitch. He could handle the big-game pressure. In fact, he loved it. It was what being a professional footballer was all about.

Thanks, Pat! Harry shouted, quickly pulling on his new shirt. Right, lets win this, lads!

It was still only his tenth cap but he was already one of the team leaders.

As usual, Harry started calmly, passing the ball around the defence, to Kyle and John, and to his left wing-back, Ashley. Southgate wanted his team to play out confidently from the back thats why Harry was in the team!

For a big man, Harry was so comfortable on the ball. Whenever he spotted some space in front of him, he dribbled forward on the attack. With his skill and strength, it was so hard to stop him.

In the thirtieth minute, England won a corner-kick.

Come on! their fans cheered loudly in the stands. This is it!

After lots of work in training, Southgates side were now set-piece specialists. Every time the ball came into the box, they looked like they were going to score.

The deliveries were always dangerous, from Ashley on the left and Kieran Trippier on the right.

And the headers were always heroic, from John and from the two Harrys.

Earlier in the World Cup, in the last minute against Tunisia, Maguire had won the first header and Kane had scored the second. What could they do now against Sweden in the quarter-final?

As Ashley crossed from the left, Harry Maguire made his move towards the penalty spot. This ball was his, and no-one was going to stop him! He muscled his way past the Sweden defenders and powered a thumping header into the bottom corner.

Gooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll
lllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a time to score his first-ever international goal! Harry raced towards the fans, pumping his fists and roaring like a lion. Playing for his country meant so much to him. Since his childhood, he had always been Englands biggest fan. Now, he was Englands goalscoring hero.

Down by the corner flag, Harry slid across the grass on his knees and his teammates piled on top of him.

Yes, Slabhead! John cheered.

Slabhead, you beauty! Kieran screamed.

As he got back to his feet, Harry looked up and listened. The delighted England fans were singing his song:

Harry Maguire, your defence is terrified!

Harry Maguire, na na na na na na na na na na!

What a feeling! Harry knew that his family would be singing along proudly. They were all there in Russia to cheer him on his parents, Alan and Zoe, his brothers, Joe and Laurence, his sister Daisy, and his girlfriend, Fern. Without them, Harrys journey might never have happened.

And what a journey it had been! Harry had travelled with Joe and Laurence to watch England at Euro 2016. Just two years later, he was scoring in a World Cup quarter-final.

Harry couldnt get carried away, though.

Focus! Southgate shouted from the sidelines.

England had defending to do. Harry won header after header, and tackle after tackle. He certainly wasnt going to ruin his big match by making a big mistake.

In the second half, Jesse Lingard crossed to Dele Alli 20 to England!

When the referee blew the final whistle, John jumped up into Harrys arms.

We did it, Big Man were in the World Cup semi-finals!