England manager Thomas Tuchel has recently made it clear that Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden does not have a guaranteed spot in his World Cup squad. Despite being the only player to start both games in England's final camp before the squad selection, Foden's performance has left some doubts about his place on the team.
Foden was tasked with filling the void left by striker Harry Kane during England's recent match against Japan. However, he failed to make an impact while playing in a false nine role. This lackluster performance led to questions about his spot in the upcoming World Cup squad.
When asked about these doubts post-match, Tuchel responded candidly: "Well, it's not a guarantee that he will come." This statement indicates that despite Foden’s previous contributions and training performances, his place on the team is far from certain.
Training excellence vs pitch performance
Tuchel acknowledged that while Foden had been "excellent" during training sessions, this excellence did not translate onto the pitch. The 25-year-old midfielder struggled to showcase his skills during actual matches – an issue which could potentially jeopardize his inclusion in England’s World Cup team. The German manager must submit his final 24-man squad list for approval by FIFA by May 30th. Following this submission deadline, England will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17th at Arlington Stadium in Texas. Foden was deployed as a false nine against Japan but failed to leave any significant impression before being replaced by striker Dominic Solanke at around the hour mark of playtime.
Adding fuel to concerns over Foden’s potential inclusion is his recent form for Manchester City. He has started just four of their past 15 games and has not found the back of the net since December 14th. This dry spell followed a run where he scored six goals in five games, highlighting a significant drop in his performance levels.
While Foden's talent is undeniable, his recent performances have raised questions about his place in England's World Cup squad. With Tuchel’s recent comments and the upcoming FIFA deadline, it remains to be seen whether Foden will secure a spot on England’s team for this prestigious tournament. Regardless of the outcome, this situation serves as a reminder that even top-tier players must consistently perform at their best to maintain their positions on national teams.
