Jamie Carragher was keen to make a point about Phil Foden, after watching the Manchester City star in action for England against Slovenia at Euro 2024 on Tuesday night.
England could only manage a 0-0 draw with Slovenia last night in their final group-stage match, but it was enough for them to top their group with five points.
It was yet another awful performance, although marginally better than against Denmark and Gareth Southgate’s substitutes did give good accounts of themselves.
It was largely more of the same from the Three Lions. There was a lack of control in the midfield and more sloppiness at times.
Slovenia, to their credit, defended well. But this was no doubt another highly disappointing collective performance.
Phil Foden has again been a big talking point for many, and Jamie Carragher believes he needs to do more.
Jamie Carragher suggests Phil Foden must do better for England having played as a winger often for Man City
Southgate once again deployed Foden out on the left against Slovenia.
Although last night, he came into the middle a lot more, rotating with Jude Bellingham.
When Foden did come inside as the number 10, he looked far better and played with more freedom and was more difficult for the Slovenia players to pick up.
He was probably one of England’s better players on the night, but he is still far from where most expect him to be for the national team.
He didn’t come in for much sympathy from Carragher, who mentioned the City man in his latest column with The Telegraph.
He said: “The tactical decisions taken by the manager so far can be debated – there is no question they must change in the knockout stages – but they have hardly been outrageous.
“Phil Foden has played wide for most of his career at Manchester City.
“He has played the same role for England for four years and never replicated his club form.”
And this morning on X, Carragher replied to a fan: “Foden has played wide for most of his City career, Jude plays off the front for Madrid, Saka plays wide right for Arsenal & Kane is up top. They are all brilliant players but they have to do more, it can’t always be about the manager!”
It’s very different with England
Granted, Foden has underwhelmed in an England shirt and most people would probably say that at this point.
As Carragher points out, Foden has spent a lot of his career so far playing in wide positions. But it’s just a different experience for him with England.
The level is not the same, and also at the moment he’s got Kieran Trippier behind him, a player who is playing out of position. Perhaps the story would be slightly different if Luke Shaw was playing and holding the width more.
It is so frustrating to see Foden playing for England at the moment.
We all know that he’s had success playing for City on the left in the past. But it just seems negligent from Southgate at this point to not play him centrally, when he’s just had the season he’s had. Especially knowing that Bellingham can operate as a number eight to accommodate him.