June 20th 2024.
Rio Ferdinand is convinced that the current positioning of two players in the England squad is causing some concern. After their 1-1 draw against Denmark at Euro 2024 on Thursday, Ferdinand expressed his worry about the performance of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
Despite a 1-0 victory against Serbia in their first match, the Three Lions were unable to secure another win against Kasper Hjulmand's team. Bellingham, who is known as a superstar in England, did not live up to his usual standards, while Foden's performance was only slightly better than his previous match on Sunday.
Ferdinand believes that both players are being played out of position and has suggested that Gareth Southgate move Bellingham deeper into a No.8 role and place Foden in the middle, rather than on the left. "The current balance of the team is not allowing the players to reach their full potential, like they do for their clubs," Ferdinand told the BBC. "Foden is playing out of position and it's not bringing out his best game. Perhaps Bellingham would perform better in a number eight role. It's definitely a cause for concern."
Foden, who was named the Premier League Player of the Season for 2023-24, played a key role in helping Manchester City secure the title. On the other hand, Bellingham, who had an outstanding debut season at Real Madrid, was voted La Liga Player of the Year.
The England players are well aware that they will need to step up their game for their final Group C match against Slovenia on Tuesday. Vice captain Kyle Walker told the BBC, "We take away the point and we are currently at the top of the group. But I can't stand here and say it was a fantastic performance."
"We need to work on our collective decision-making, knowing when to go and when to hold back as a team. These are things we need to practice, especially as we enter the knockout stages because these small details can make a big difference. We also need to improve our build-up play and make sure we are winning the second ball."
"Each player represents their country and we are all willing to give our all on the field. We are doing everything we can to bring success to England."
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