Manchester City recorded an impressive win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and it was Phil Foden who stole the show despite all the pre-game hype around Erling Haaland.
Everyone expected Haaland to make an impact against his former club, and that he did, popping up with a goal just before the half-hour mark at the Etihad.
However, Man City really had Foden to thank for the victory over the German side, with the 25-year-old bagging a goal in each half.
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Pep Guardiola was delighted with the City academy graduate, and the display on Wednesday night has left everyone with little doubt as to Foden’s chances of being involved in the next England squad.
Phil Foden during Manchester City's match with Arsenal.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Pundits rave about Phil Foden after two goals vs Borussia Dortmund
After seeing Phil Foden curl in his first goal of the night, Michael Brown raved about the Man City star on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying: “Talk about England – should he be in the squad? How can you overlook him? I don’t think that is possible anymore.”
Later, after Foden added a second, near-identical goal, Brown doubled down and said: “Phil Foden stepped up… His awareness is so good, he waits, used the defender, and it was a lovely finish. He is popping up with confidence. Pep will be delighted that he is finding the net.
“That quality and preciseness. He is on fire and doing positive things yet again.”
At the start of the season, Ian Wright questioned Foden’s future at Man City. However, he’s now got four goals and three assists this term, and looks to be back to his absolute best.
Discussing how Foden was able to make such an impact on the night, Leon Osman also lavished praise on the City man, telling Match of the Day: “That goal was down to Foden finding space in the pocket again. None of the Dortmund players went in to challenge him.”
When Foden is in this kind of form, it’s not surprising that defenders are terrified to get close to him.
Thomas Tuchel gestures during England training
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
How does Phil Foden fit into the England team?
Interestingly, Foden has not played for his country since March, when he bagged an assist as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Latvia. That’s three squad selections for Thomas Tuchel that Foden has been left out (albeit one was due to injury).
If it is time for him to return to the England squad, and it certainly looks that way, where does he play? In the past, we’ve seen Foden used out wide and through the middle, to varying effect.
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Poll: Should Phil Foden start for England?
The fact of the matter is, Foden is the kind of player that needs freedom to roam. That’s hard when you have players like Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane; not only in terms of competition for places, but also competition for actual space in the attacking third.
Finding that cohesion as a unit in the forward areas is key for Foden slotting into the England team. That’s down to Tuchel to instruct his players accordingly, but with the form he’s in right now, it’s hard to deny that Foden should be given another shot, and told to simply work his magic in those pockets of space he so brilliantly finds.