England's recent victory over Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final was a thrilling spectacle, with the Three Lions emerging victorious after a tense penalty shootout. One of the key talking points from this match was Gareth Southgate's decision to deploy Phil Foden in an unfamiliar role. This article delves into Foden’s performance and Southgate’s verdict on it.
In a surprising tactical shift, England manager Gareth Southgate chose to play Manchester City starlet Phil Foden alongside Jude Bellingham in midfield rather than his usual position as a left-winger. This change allowed England to switch between 3-4-2-1 and 3-3-4 formations when they had possession.
Frequently seen playing either alongside or ahead of Kobbie Mainoo and Declan Rice, the £225,000-a-week man showcased his versatility during this crucial game. Football pundit Gary Lineker noted that the 24-year-old "came to life" during the contest while playing in his natural attacking midfield position.
The midfield experiment worked in some way
Southgate praised Foden for his performance, indicating that he felt this midfield experiment worked well. Unlike previous games where he would often drift into central areas from the left flank, against Switzerland, he was given more freedom to venture into advanced positions on the right-hand side of the pitch.
England manager, Gareth Southgate, said:
“I think Phil [Foden] had one of his best games for us. Looked really free.”
The first half saw some of England's best football at Euro 2024 so far; however, as Swiss took control over proceedings in second-half forcing Southgate’s side to retreat deeper as time passed by. Despite these challenges though, England managed five successful spot-kicks out of five attempts while Manuel Akanji failed for Switzerland leading to a 5-3 win during shootout for Gareth Southgate and Co., who were quick to commend Foden's contribution.
A mixed outing for Foden
As Southgate rightly pointed out, Foden had more freedom to play his natural game against Switzerland. His passing from deep areas was impressive in the first half, as were his first touch and combination play in tight areas. These positive signs suggested that his performance would improve even further after the half-time break.
However, the second half saw a few sloppy decisions from the decorated attacker when trying to create chances or shooting from distance. Often opting for safety over risk-taking, he chose simple passes rather than driving with the ball when Switzerland were dropping deeper to contain England. Despite these inconsistencies, it was clear that there were positives to take away from this mixed outing by Stockport-born technician. If he takes more initiative and risks in the Netherlands match in semi-final, we could see him explode into life on pitch.
While Phil Foden's performance against Switzerland may have been a mixed bag of highs and lows, it demonstrated his adaptability and potential for growth. As England progresses further into Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate's leadership, fans will be eagerly watching how this young talent continues to evolve.
