Euro 2024

[monks data]

European Championship | Quarter-Finals

Jul 6, 2024 at 5pm UK

Merkur Spiel-Arena

England
1 - 1
Switzerland

Saka (80')
Kane (67')

FT
(aet)

Embolo (75')
Schar (32'), Widmer (85')

England win 5-3 on penalties

England's Phil Foden 'does not agree' with views on Jude Bellingham partnership

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 04 July 2024

Phil Foden discusses whether he and Jude Bellingham can play in the same England team ahead of Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland in Dusseldorf.

Phil Foden is adamant that he and Jude Bellingham can play in the same England team as they prepare for Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland in Dusseldorf.

The Three Lions, regarded as pre-tournament favourites by many, have flattered to deceive in Germany thus far and have received widespread criticism for their below-par performances.

Gareth Southgate's side have scored just four goals in as many games and they were on the cusp of suffering an embarrassing 1-0 elimination to Slovakia in the last 16, only for Bellingham to come to the rescue.

Indeed, the Real Madrid star scored a dramatic 95th-minute overhead kick to restore parity for England and send the contest to extra time, before captain Harry Kane completed the comeback with a header just 52 seconds after the restart to secure a 2-1 victory.

Bellingham and Foden have started all four England games at Euro 2024, with the former operating in the number 10 role at the expense of the latter who has been forced to play out on the left.

Foden has struggled to replicate his scintillating form that he produced at Manchester City last season, scoring 27 goals and registering 12 assists in 53 games to win the Premier League Player of the Year award.

England's Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden looked dejected on June 25, 2024 [IMAGO] © Imago

Foden hopeful he can "click" with Bellingham for England

The 24-year-old's inter-play with Bellingham has brought criticism from Three Lions supporters and some have even called for one of them to be dropped, as Southgate still ponders how he can fit as many of his star players into his starting lineup.

Foden, who has continuously drifted from the left into central positions, has made it clear about where he wants to play, but he still believes that he and Bellingham can "click" in the same system on the international stage.

Responding to the accusation that he and Bellingham cannot play together, Foden told reporters: "No, I don't agree with that, I feel like we do work well together. I keep saying it but it is true, just the way the games have gone sometimes and the way football works.

"I feel like in the last game we did build on it really well, in terms of keeping the ball, a lot more, we piled pressure on the end. I feel like it can hopefully click together in the last game."

Discussing his preferred position, Foden added: "I think I have shown this season for City that I have moved more centrally and the goals have gone up and I have influenced more games.

"I have always been honest about my position and I have always seen myself as playing midfield. I feel like even though I have started on the left, I have drifted into those positions.

"It is more how we have been on the ball and not been able to find me because of the way the games have been. Earlier, we have not had many attacks. Some games we have had to dig deep and I am hoping no games are the same and hoping that against Switzerland we do see more of the ball and that our pressing is good."

England's Phil Foden in action on June 25, 2024 [IMAGO] © Imago

Foden targeting England improvements amid 'frustrations'

Foden has admitted that he has been "a little frustrated" with how things have panned out for him at Euro 2024 so far, but he does believe that his work rate within Southgate's team has been overlooked.

"I have been a little frustrated. I am not going to lie," said the playmaker. "I want to try and score, do better things for England and like I said it has not worked out. But it is about keeping a good mentality.

"I have not been the best player in the Premier League to come here and not show it. I feel like every game I am moving forward and hopefully I can put on some good performances and that has always been my aim for England."

"Some of the games have not been us," he continued. "We want to play possession football and sometimes the game's not gone that way and you have to dig deep and defend. I'm one for always working hard. If you look at my stats the majority of the time I'm the one who's run the most. People don't see that side of the game which is important."

A recent report claims that Southgate is considering whether to change formation for Saturday's encounter with Switzerland and switch to a three-man defence, with wing-back deployed as well as two central strikers, with the prospect of Foden, Bellingham and Declan Rice all occupying central midfield positions.