Gareth Southgate faces a pressing challenge with Phil Foden's struggles to replicate his Manchester City brilliance on the international stage, despite England's potential advancement to the Euro 2024 knockout phase with a victory over Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday. Foden's lackluster performance in England's tense 1-0 win over Serbia in their Group C opener has reignited discussions over Southgate's handling of the gifted playmaker.
The 24-year-old, who was crowned Premier League Player of the Year following a stellar season with Manchester City, where he contributed significantly to their fourth consecutive league title with 19 goals and eight assists, has found it challenging to translate his club form to the international arena. His inconsistency has been evident across recent tournaments, including Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he struggled to make a substantial impact.
Deployed on the left wing against Serbia, a position that has often left him looking out of sync within England's attacking trio behind striker Harry Kane, Foden's discomfort contrasts sharply with his versatile and influential role under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Guardiola has entrusted Foden with pivotal roles both as a number 10 and on the right flank, allowing him to dictate play and showcase his adeptness in passing and finishing.
Despite being dubbed the 'Stockport Iniesta' by City supporters in homage to his stylistic similarities with Barcelona and Spain legend Andres Iniesta, Foden's recent performances for England have lacked the same flair and impact. Southgate's decision to utilize Jude Bellingham as the team's primary playmaker and deploy Bukayo Saka on the right flank has posed further questions about how best to integrate Foden's talents effectively into the national team's setup.
As England prepares to face Denmark in a crucial fixture, Southgate must navigate how to harness Foden's potential and unlock his club-level prowess on the international stage, aiming to secure England's advancement while addressing the persistent conundrum surrounding their star playmaker.
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