Phil Foden temporarily exits England’s Euro 2024 camp and returns to UK | OneFootball

Manchester City and England international Phil Foden has temporarily left his national team’s camp in Germany for a ‘pressing family matter’ back in the UK.

The news comes after England secured their place in the knock-out stage of the competition on Tuesday night, finishing their Group C campaign as winners ahead of Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia.

Phil Foden has competed in all three of England’s matches at the tournament thus far, being utilised by manager Gareth Southgate on the left of an attacking formation, in a contrast to his role under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

However, in the lead up to England’s knock-out stage game on Sunday, with their opponents still to be confirmed due to upcoming group stage matches, Phil Foden’s own preparations have been placed on hold.

As confirmed by the Football Association on Wednesday, Manchester City’s Phil Foden has temporarily left the England camp at the European Championships and returned to the UK for a pressing family matter.

Additional details courtesy of BBC Sport’s Dan Roan have since confirmed that Foden has flown home to be present for the birth of his third child, and is expected to be back with the England squad by Sunday.

The 24-year-old’s eldest child, Ronnie boasts an online following on social media platform Instagram in excess of four million, with his account managed by his parents.

Foden’s time with England at the ongoing European Championships has been thrust into the spotlight by onlookers critical of his role under Gareth Southgate, believing that the Three Lions coach should be using the Premier League Player of the Season in the centre of the park.

Manchester City’s number 47 has not been utilised on the left-side of attack since the 2020/21 campaign, with Guardiola working tirelessly to develop the academy graduate to a point where he can be trusted in the central playmaking role.

With Kevin De Bruyne absent for the first-half of the last season, Foden was trusted by his Catalan manager to operate in the attacking midfield role on a consistent basis, starring in the position alongside Julian Alvarez.