Micah Richards defends Phil Foden and claims he can be England’s ‘BEST player’ at Euro 2024… but Rio Ferdinand argues there are THREE players ahead of him in the pecking order
Micah Richards believes Phil Foden can still be England’s best player at Euro 2024.
The pundit claimed his isolated performance against Serbia had more to do with the team’s decision-making, but insists he can copy a Jude Belligham trait to thrive.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand argued that Foden’s England teammates would prefer to move on to three other stars – and that the status he has at Manchester City at international level is diminishing.
Foden was criticized for his rather anonymous performance as England beat Serbia 1-0 in their opening match, struggling to influence the match from the left wing.
‘He’s frustrated. Phil Foden is the best player in this team in tight spaces. Give him the ball as soon as possible,” Richards told BBC Sport ahead of England’s match against Denmark.
Phil Foden can be England’s best player at the 2024 European Championship, but like Jude Bellingham, needs to show more ‘personality’ on the pitch, says Micah Richards
The expert believes Foden’s teammates should pass the ball to him faster in tight spaces
‘You don’t want him in this position, he can’t hurt the opposition in this position [when he is too wide or withdrawn].
‘He can do it right or left. He can make these runs from behind because he is so intelligent. Then it’s about crossing the ball, which he can do.
‘The key is to play as quickly as possible against your best players who can damage the opponent, and we don’t do that.
“The difference is that you look at Bellingham with your shoulders forward. He demands it, controls it. We need Phil Foden to show that personality now and show people how good a player he is.”
Bellingham was hailed as man of the match for his brilliance against Serbia, scoring a header from Bukayo Saka’s cross.
That was the only goal of the match and Bellingham was widely praised for his ability to dictate the pace.
Ferdinand said Foden should be more assertive when demanding the ball.
He said: ‘I think he demands it and shouts after it. If someone has the ball, you have to tell him or her. When the ball is released and passed, he is frustrated and it shows.
Rio Ferdinand believes Foden should be more assertive and demand the ball more forcefully
Players are prioritizing passing on Bellingham, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, Ferdinand said
“You have to shout before the ball comes, and if that doesn’t happen, go straight to people and say, ‘Give me the ball.’
‘Play in those positions with your best players. The team has to talk about that sometimes.
‘Teams identify who your best player is and talk about it in the dressing rooms and during the matches – ‘get the ball to him’.
‘He is at Manchester City, but he is not at England at the moment. They play for Jude first, Harry first and him for Saka.”