Jude Bellingham has leading man syndrome and Phil Foden often plays like a kitten rather than a lion… this is why England’s star duo look like the new Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, writes CRAIG HOPE

Twenty years later and considerably further on the pitch, England are still struggling to accommodate two of their star players. For Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, see Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.

The solution then was not to find a solution. Do nothing and gain nothing. History, you fear, threatens to repeat itself. For Sven Goran Eriksson, see Gareth Southgate.

Bellingham has the leading man syndrome and, against Slovakia at least, he walked the walk, albeit just as the curtain was about to fall. There had been a lot of walking and strutting before that.

Foden is less overt, less assured, even if only in an England shirt. If Southgate doesn’t put him centrally — or right of centre, in a literal positional sense — he might as well disappear to the left of the stage.

He seemed withdrawn on Sunday, from the action and from himself. While Bellingham prowls like a panther, majestic and fearless, Foden can look like a kitten for his country. His eyes betray a fear. His disallowed goal in Gelsenkirchen, casually offside, betrayed an eagerness to get it right.

A succession of English managers have failed to get the best out of Frank Lampard (left) and Steven Gerrard (right) in the Three Lions’ midfield

That was his England career in a flash — one of the sharpest minds in the Premier League, dulled by a nervous need to impress. The relief in his celebration, soon to be cut short, told you that. He had, it must be noted, converted from the central area populated by Bellingham.

Despite all their similarities, they are very different characters. But opposites don’t always attract.

Against Slovakia, Foden passed once to Bellingham and Bellingham passed once to Foden. But between them they passed 18 times to left-back Kieran Trippier.

So England’s direction was not forward. How could that be with such a progressive duo, players of the season in their respective leagues? With Bellingham and Foden on the pitch for 93 minutes, England failed to even manage a shot on target.

Touch maps and heat maps make you believe you’re looking at the same player, no matter how great their connection is.

And that’s what Southgate has to learn.

If they both stood on each other’s toes but misled their opponent, there would be a distortion of the shape.

But there is no such double play. Instead, they each try to provide their own lines. There was an incident in the second half of the 0-0 draw with Slovenia last week when Bellingham was awarded a corner after attempting a cross towards goal from the byline.

Foden, running freely on the edge of the penalty area, waved his arms in frustration and had to be calmed down by Manchester City team-mate Kyle Walker.

In four games, Phil Foden has had just two shots on target. He has an xG of 0.29

Foden’s output for England is a far cry from what he produces on a weekly basis for his club Man City

In four games, Foden has had just two shots on target. He has an xG of 0.29, which equates to a goal every 14 games. He scored one in two for City last season. Bellingham’s figures in Germany don’t make for good reading either.

He has had two shots on target during the tournament, scoring on both. His xG of 0.59 is one goal every seven games. There have been zero assists.

These may be individual shortcomings, at least in terms of club shape, but there are clearly compatibility issues.

For all the singing of Foden and his spark, he has none with Bellingham. Like Lampard and Gerrard, they look after themselves before they look after each other.

What then is the solution, even if Southgate is likely to remain loyal to his failing system and faltering personnel?

Should it be necessary for the good of the team for Foden or Bellingham to come on, he will not do so with his match-saving bicycle kick.

But there is a wider body of evidence. Foden was chosen as No.10 for Iceland’s 1-0 defeat before the Euros.

To visit again Post Sport‘s comments from Wembley: ‘Sloppy first half, with clumsy passes and crosses. Also flaws in front of the Iceland goal. Tried to make things happen, but not his night.’

Gareth Southgate has retained faith in the Man City star despite his underperforming performances so far

Foden’s best position is number 10, but he has been moved to the flanks, with Bellingham taking up that space for the Three Lions

Bellingham’s match-saving antics against Slovakia have almost certainly ensured he retains his starting place against Switzerland

With Foden you suspect it’s more an England issue than a positional one. After all, you’re on the pitch for your country in a major final – that’s an enviable position to be in. There’s sympathy, but it felt like it had reached its sell-by date against Slovakia.

As he walked behind the goal and towards the dugout after his substitution, Foden had a great view of Bellingham’s miraculous move.

Like his earlier disallowed goal into the same net, that split second spoke of a much longer time. Foden was gone and finally Bellingham was on fire.