Manchester City will have a number of players in action during the upcoming quarter-final matches of the 2024 European Championship.
After having more players (14) than any other side in the Premier League selected to play in the tournament, the majority of those names are still involved in the competition following the group stage and knockout round.
Ahead of the upcoming quarter-final round of fixtures, a pundit has pinpointed one particular City player who has played a prominent role in his country’s journey in the tournament so far as being rather underwhelming.
Darren Bent admits Phil Foden has been ineffective for England at Euro 2024
When asked in a recent video shared on the talkSPORT YouTube channel if Gareth Southgate needs to change his England side for their upcoming quarter-final match against Switzerland, Darren Bent had this to say on the matter and Phil Foden, in particular.
He said: “I’m not saying he’s being stubborn, but I think he now needs to start looking at his team selection and going do you know what? I love Phil, I think Phil had an incredible season but he obviously doesn’t want to play Phil Foden in the middle of the park with [Jude] Bellingham and [Declan] Rice.
“So he’s almost just putting him out there on the left and he’s been so ineffective.
“If that’s me I’m going ‘Listen, Phil, you’ve been brilliant this season but I can’t play you. I’m going to have to try and find a different way of getting someone else in that position.’
“Anthony Gordon hasn’t had a go, I would probably go Cole Palmer from that position but that’s just me, but I do think things need to change.”
A position change would benefit Foden
Having started all four of England’s games of the tournament on the left wing, Foden has been unable to score a goal or deliver an assist for the Three Lions.
Despite that, the 24-year-old has still managed to make the joint-highest number of shot-creating actions (12) in the squad.
In fact, Stuart Pearce recently suggested that Foden has outperformed Jude Bellingham, who has scored two of England’s four goals in the competitions.
In our view, as Bent mentioned, Southgate should make a change and take what he may consider to be a risk and play the City star in a central role, where he scored 13 goals in 15 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side last season.