Foden must do more than flicker to earn key World Cup role for England | Phil Foden

Phil Foden remains England’s enigma. The Manchester City attacker has often been inspired for his club and insipid for his country. He was the best offensive player in the Premier League last season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions, but he flattered to deceive during England’s baffling run to the final of Euro 2024.

A solitary dazzling performance in the semi-final victory over the Netherlands merely heightened the frustration. Playing as an inside-forward in Gareth Southgate’s rejigged 3-4-2-1 system, Foden was at his bewitching best in that game. He drifted into pockets and ran at defenders, teasing them with his close control and sharp one-twos. He hit the woodwork with a wondrous shot from long range. He burrowed into the area, all quick feet and low centre of gravity, and had an effort hacked off the line. He was involved during one of England’s best moves during the second half, slipping a clever pass into Kyle Walker, who was marginally offside when he crossed for Bukayo Saka to sidefoot past Bart Verbruggen from close range.

Hopes of that night in Dortmund finally sparking Foden’s England career into life proved a deception. He produced little in the final against Spain and has not been a regular presence since Southgate’s departure. He withdrew from the September and November camps because of injury and featured in two out of six games during Lee Carsley’s caretaker stint. In one of them, the dreadful 2-1 home loss to Greece in the Nations League, he suffered because of Carsley’s muddled attempt to use all the playmakers and was withdrawn in the 72nd minute.

Now it falls to Thomas Tuchel to work out how to deploy Foden. On the flanks or in the middle? In the XI or on the bench when England begin their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup with games against Albania and Latvia? There is an argument that Foden, whose form has been affected by City’s malaise this season, is not part of the most effective team. He has four goals in 43 appearances and is in danger of being remembered as a modern-day John Barnes, who experienced similar problems in replicating his domestic exploits on the international stage.

Tuchel will not want to be hasty. Every manager would love an opportunity to tap into Foden’s talent. At this stage, though, there is no point in debating whether the responsibility is on England to build around Foden. He has had plenty of opportunities. He is under pressure to prove he is more effective than the other creative players and wingers at Tuchel’s disposal.

Foden has never had any flow at this level. He went to Euro 2020 with a Gazza haircut and could not quite build momentum. He forced his way into the starting lineup after a slow start at the 2022 World Cup, but could not prevent a quarter-final exit against France. He soared for City, helping them win the treble in 2023, but struggled to convince Southgate to play him in a central role. “He doesn’t for his club,” Southgate said before a friendly against Scotland. “Presumably there is a reason for that.”

The argument for using Foden in a wide role was that he needed to hone his pressing game before being considered for a regular spot in his favoured No 10 position. His ability on the ball was deemed less important than his work without it, leaving Southgate open to accusations of wasting a generational talent when England’s 4-2-3-1 system malfunctioned at the start of Euro 2024.

It was a familiar tale. The sense was that Southgate did not know how to mould his attack into a balanced unit. Jude Bellingham had to play in the middle, but Foden was too good to leave out. The comparisons to Sven-Göran Eriksson moving Paul Scholes to the left to accommodate Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were unavoidable last summer.

Yet Scholes is on record as saying he did not mind going wide. It gave him freedom to drift and Southgate envisaged similar for Foden. Sometimes the onus is on the individual. Foden was allowed to move inside but his end product was not up to scratch. There was a moment in England’s second game, the 1-1 draw with Denmark, when he dribbled through the middle and had a chance to slide a through-ball to Harry Kane. Instead, perhaps out of desperation to impress, he shot wide from 30 yards.

Pep Guardiola probably would have taken Foden off if that had happened in a City game. Southgate persisted with him. Foden started every game at the Euros, even though he failed to score or make a goal. He had central roles when England switched to a back three after their win over Slovakia in the last 16. It was Bellingham who was moved to the left wing when Southgate reverted to a back four against Spain. Foden had centre stage in Berlin and he fluffed his lines.

It is time to step up. Foden will surely be part of their squad at next year’s World Cup but there is no guarantee he will be a starter. Tuchel has spoken of the need to have pace around Harry Kane. Pushing in front of Bellingham in the race for a central spot is not going to be easy for Foden. All he can do for now is catch Tuchel’s eye against Albania and Latvia.