Phil Foden’s relatively lack-lustre performance on Sunday against Serbia has left Mail Sport’s football experts pondering Gareth Southgate’s latest quandary: What to do with the Man City star?
Foden is likely the most technically gifted player that England can call upon, and has had an unbelievable campaign with Man City once more, but he is still yet to bring his best to the national team.
He appeared ineffectual and frustrated in Gelsenkirchen, and with a huge depth of talent waiting quite literally in the wings, talk has turned to Foden’s place in the side – should he be dropped? Should he start at No 10?
After Jack Gaughan and Craig Hope discussed where Foden should play – the former claiming it would be ‘sacrilege’ to drop him, while the latter suggests moving him to No 10 and bringing in Anthony Gordon – Ian Ladyman describes leaving the forward out as ‘a kneejerk reaction to end all kneejerk reactions’.
Mike Keegan then contends that the XI that faced Serbia was not England’s best, and both he and Ladyman agree that Cole Palmer would come in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Bellingham dropping in alongside Declan Rice and Foden playing as a No 10.
Keegan also predicts Foden will be named Player of the Tournament, before the discussion turns to whether Bellingham would be as effective alongside Rice, or whether his natural propensity to roam around the field could give England more problems.
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Phil Foden didn’t have his strongest game against Serbia in England’s Euros opener
Gareth Southgate has been left with a decision to make with one of his best players having an off-day