June 18th 2024.
Phil Foden, the talented Manchester City player, seemed to be struggling to find his form on the international stage. In the Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, he was not able to replicate the scintillating performances he had been putting on for his club. This caught the attention of former Three Lions captain Terry Butcher, who called for Foden to raise his game for England.
Despite Foden's underwhelming performance, England managed to secure a win in their first Group C match. Jude Bellingham's powerful header early in the first half was enough to secure all three points for Gareth Southgate's side. However, Foden's lackluster display did not go unnoticed, as he failed to make an impact and appeared visibly frustrated at times.
In contrast to his performance for England, Foden had a remarkable season for Manchester City, scoring 27 goals and providing 12 assists to help his team win their fourth consecutive title. But for some reason, he has not been able to replicate that form for his country. Butcher, who earned 77 caps for England, even admitted that he would have been tempted to substitute Foden during the match against Serbia.
"I was disappointed with Foden," Butcher stated in an interview. "That is not the Phil Foden we have seen all season at Manchester City. He seemed to be coming into the middle position too early and too often." Butcher also pointed out England's lack of width on the left side, as Kieran Trippier, who is not naturally left-footed, was tasked with providing it. Butcher believes that Foden would have been better off being substituted earlier, especially considering the long season he has had.
While the media has been buzzing about Bellingham's impressive performance, Butcher also had praise for Marc Guehi, who was filling in for the injured Harry Maguire in the central defense. Butcher was particularly impressed with Guehi's composure and ability to complete every pass and win every duel and tackle in the first half. He also praised Guehi's pace and his confidence to play the ball forward to the midfield and attacking players.
"He won headers against some very experienced players," Butcher commented on Guehi's performance. "I was really pleased with him. He knocked the ball around very well, and it was hard to tell which foot was his strongest. His pace was also a big asset, but what I loved the most was his confidence to thread the ball through to the midfield and Harry Kane."
In conclusion, Butcher believes that England has a formidable attacking force with players like Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Foden, and Kane. However, he also acknowledges that they need to step up and make their presence felt on the field. He hopes to see Foden and the other attacking talents showcasing their skills and making it a problem for their opponents in the upcoming matches.
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