Phil Foden’s shyness could hold back his England career compared to the ‘arrogant’ style of Jude Bellingham, Jamie Carragher has claimed.
The Manchester City star came under the microscope during the international break for his performance against Albania, with Thomas Tuchel criticising his and Marcus Rashford’s lack of ‘impact’.
But Foden bounced back off the bench in the 3-0 win over Latvia, providing an assist for Eberechi Eze’s spectacular goal.
It has been a difficult season for Foden, who returned from the European Championship with ‘mental burnout,’ and Mail Sport has reported how City’s stars have privately worried about Foden.
Yet there is no doubting his sublime talent, as evidenced by his 27 goals and 13 assists last season as he won the Premier League player of the season – even if he is yet to reproduce that form on the international stage.
‘When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad, which is fine. I don’t think he has got that arrogance for England the same way Jude Bellingham does,’ Carragher told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Phil Foden’s shyness could hold him back for England, Jamie Carragher has argued
However, Gary Neville insists that Foden is so talented that he should be virtually undroppable
Foden’s flexibility is a virtue, Neville believes – but Carragher thinks Jude Bellingham’s ‘arrogant’ style serves him better
‘That holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed.’
However, Gary Neville insists that Foden deserves more respect and is a huge asset due to his versatility.
‘So, what happens with players like Phil Foden is that they’re more flexible and more versatile. Jude Bellingham has to play where he plays – and because he (Foden) is flexible, you can put him anywhere. You can play him number 10, then left winger and then right winger – you move around,’ he said.
‘It’s the age-old thing with England – some players have to be in form to play and other players will get played respective of the club.
‘Managers for England, for years, who have been to many tournaments – I know how they think. Ultimately, someone like Harry Kane, it doesn’t matter whether he hasn’t scored in his last five games for his club – he is going to be playing for England.
‘Alan Shearer didn’t score all the way up until the Euros, Les [Ferdinand] was never going to play, and Robbie Fowler was never going to play. It’s always going to be Shearer. Foden should be that player for me.’
Foden’s status with England was questioned at a tricky Euro 2024 campaign where, despite reaching the final with England, Foden struggled to impose himself from the less familiar left flank.
He later told the Manchester Evening News: ‘I feel frustrated I didn’t get out what I wanted to get out of it. The position I was put in on the left was very difficult to influence the game.
Foden could lose his place in the team and lacks confidence, Roy Keane previously said
Keane claims that he ‘doesn’t expect anything’ when Foden gets on the ball amid his slump
The Manchester City star has endured a drop-off in form after suffering from burnout
He enjoyed a phenomenal 2023-24 campaign, scoring 27 goals and landing 13 assists to boot
Foden was ‘frustrated’ at Euro 2024 as he was played on the left wing, not down the centre
‘Coming off last season being the best player in the Premier League and playing centre midfield, I do feel the position was quite difficult to get used to.
‘I’m one who can play multiple positions and had to try to deal with it the best I could. I don’t feel like England ever got going or performed to our potential.’
Getting the best out of their prodigious talents has proven a difficult task for the Three Lions down the years which long predates Foden.
England’s ‘golden generation’ never went beyond the quarter-finals of a major tournament and that was partly down to an inability to properly accommodate their most talented stars.
Unlike Neville, Roy Keane argued after England’s 2-0 win against Albania in Tuchel’s first game in charge that Foden should be looking over his shoulder.
‘I think he might be lacking in confidence, and he’s definitely off it, his club form is not great, but we know he’s got that quality,’ he told ITV.
‘But even tonight when he was getting it, I wasn’t sitting there going… usually when Foden’s at his best, you’re sitting there going, something’s going to happen, even when he cuts in, he’ll pick a pass out, get a shot away, he’s done none of that tonight.
‘And every time he gets the ball now, I’m looking at him going, “I don’t expect anything from Foden at the moment.”
‘Wherever he’s playing, you affect the game, you can affect the game in different ways, and he didn’t do that tonight.’
‘Listen, Foden won’t have that problem coming up about where he wants to play (out wide or at No 10), because he won’t be playing. That’s a bigger problem for him.’
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
