Phil Foden temporarily leaves England's Euro 2024 camp due to 'pressing family matter'

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Evening Standard

·26 June 2024

Phil Foden temporarily leaves England's Euro 2024 camp due to 'pressing family matter'

Not yet certain when Man City midfielder will return as last-16 looms

Phil Foden has “temporarily” left the England camp to deal with a family matter, the FA have announced.

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According to reports, Foden will attend the birth of his third child before returning by Sunday, the day of England’s next game.

The Manchester City man has started all three of England’s games at Euro 2024 so far and was named FWA Footballer of the Year last season, after a campaign in which he scored 19 goals and registered eight assists in 35 league games for title-winners City.

Despite an improved performance in Tuesday night’s goalless draw with Slovenia, there have been calls from some to drop Foden due to England’s struggles in attack, and suggestions from others that manager Gareth Southgate must deploy him centrally, where he plays for his club, rather than out wide on the left wing.

A statement from an FA spokesperson on Wednesday afternoon confirmed he has left the camp.

It read: “Phil Foden has temporarily left the England camp and returned to the UK for a pressing family matter.”

England’s next match is at 5pm BST on Sunday, when they take on a third-place team in the last-16. Foden must now be considered a doubt for that game, which could be against the Netherlands.

Foden made his England debut in 2020 and has scored four goals in 37 caps for the Three Lions.