Phil Foden reveals frustration at Euro 2024 performances and desire to play in central midfield for England | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Phil Foden has revealed his frustration at his own performances for England at the ongoing European Championships in Germany.

The Premier League Player of the Season from the most recently concluded campaign has endured a largely underwhelming tournament in Germany thus far, operating in a left-winger role with compliments from Kieran Trippier advancing from left-back.

England themselves have largely struggled across the park, making the quarter-final stage of the competition through a string of worrying performances both in an attacking and defensive sense, whilst also drawing against Denmark in the group stage of the competition.

There is a feeling in some quarters however that manager Gareth Southgate could be ready to rip up his own tactics board for the upcoming quarter-final tie, and ahead of that game, Phil Foden himself has issued a public plea with regards to his positional placement for the nation.

Speaking ahead of England’s 2024 European Championship quarter-final showdown with Switzerland on Saturday evening, Foden has admitted his frustration at his own performances at the tournament so far, but feels he is making steps of improvement.

“I’ve been a bit frustrated, I’m not going to lie. I want to try and score, try and do better things for England and at times it’s not worked out but it’s about keeping a good mentality,” Foden admitted this week.

He continued, “I’ve not been the best player in the Premier League to come here and not show it. I feel like every game I’m moving little steps forward and hopefully I can put in good performances for England, that’s always been my aim.”

Many onlookers of Gareth Southgate’s side at the tournament thus far feel as though the England boss should be utilising Foden in his natural and most successful position of attacking midfield – a role where he saw incredible success last campaign.

On the central attacking midfield role, Phil Foden explained, “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 don’t agree (that he and Jude Bellingham cannot play together), I feel it can click in the last games.”

Whilst there have been suggestions that Phil Foden could get his wish of being utilised in the attacking midfield role this weekend, it has also been reported that he could be accompanied by Jude Bellingham.

Manchester City’s John Stones and Kyle Walker could also be subject to positional and tactical changes in defence, with Gareth Southgate considering the option of a back-three due to the absence of Marc Guehi, with Ezri Konsa the favourite to come into the side.