Jamie O’Hara has claimed that one Manchester City player is “ineffective” every time he puts on an England shirt.
Gareth Southgate’s side defeated Serbia on Sunday night, courtesy of a close-range header from Jude Bellingham in the 13 minute.
Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden started in the Three Lions’ opening game of Euro 2024. Despite the clash being a mismatch on paper, it ended up being a tightly-contested affair.
Jamie O’Hara makes fresh Phil Foden claim as England beat Serbia
In the second half, the Serbians grew into the game as they chased an equaliser.
However, England’s backline managed to keep them at bay and kickstarted their European Championship campaign with a win.
As England were trying to close the game out against Serbia, Jamie O’Hara was critical of Foden.
On talkSPORT, he said: “Phil Foden should be off the pitch. I’m sorry, I love him, he’s been unbelievable this season but ineffective in an England shirt.”
“I love Phil Foden. I feel for him. I feel for Phil because it’s the old Paul Scholes role.”
As per Sofascore, the £225,000-a-week man had 64 touches of the ball.
Despite taking quite a few touches of the ball, it is safe to say that Foden was not at his glittering best on Sunday.
Phil Foden did not get the ball in the best possible areas
Gareth Southgate seemingly made a concerted effort to ensure the 24-year-old is allowed to play centrally.
However, as Jamie O’Hara claimed, Foden was ineffective for England against Serbia — failing to explain why that was the case.
Unlike at Manchester City, the six-time Premier League winner was not provided the ball behind the opposition midfield. The likes of Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold, England’s midfield duo on the night struggled to play incisive passes that found the likes of Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane in such positions.
While the City attacker perhaps did not take enough risks in possession as well, the fact of the matter remains that creative players need to be found in zones where they can weave their magic.
If not, subdued displays like Foden’s become inevitable.