England Enigma: Foden’s City Magic Disappears in Three Lions Shirt
Phil Foden, Manchester City’s goal machine, seems to have hit a wall when switching from the club’s sky blue to England’s white. Micah Richards, a City legend himself, even admitted to feeling “sad” watching Foden’s struggles on the international stage [Richards quote].
The 24-year-old was instrumental in City’s record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title, racking up a whopping 27 goals and 12 assists. But for England, it’s a different story. Foden has only managed 4 goals in 35 appearances, and his performance in the Euro 2024 opener against Serbia was, well, forgettable.
Even with England securing a narrow 1-0 victory, Foden seemed to be a ghost on the pitch, failing to make a significant impact. Meanwhile, teammate Jude Bellingham stole the show with the winning goal.
Richards isn’t the only one scratching his head. Many are wondering what’s causing Foden’s England slump [Richards quote]. Is it Gareth Southgate’s tactics not meshing with Foden’s strengths? Is the pressure of international play getting to him?
Interestingly, Foden himself downplayed England’s lackluster performance against Serbia, focusing on the win [Foden quote]. He seems to be adopting a “win at all costs” mentality, even if it means sacrificing his own attacking flair.
Can Foden rediscover his City magic for England? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: England needs a spark, and if they want to win this Euro, they’ll need to find a way to unlock Foden’s true potential.
