West Ham United goalscorer Michail Antonio believes that Phil Foden will not start for England at Euro 2024.
Just last month, the 33-year-old showered the Englishman with praise, claiming “he’s got it all” while analysing his game.
Having faced Manchester City and England midfielder Phil Foden on several occasions, Michail Antonio seems to be aware of how brilliant a player he is.
Michail Antonio does not think Phil Foden will start for England at Euro 2024
However, Michail Antonio does not reckon Phil Foden would start for England at the Euros, not because he thinks that should be the case but because of Gareth Southgate’s fixed XI.
“I don’t think he starts for England”, he said on BBC Sounds’ The Footballer’s Football Podcast.
“We know Gareth Southgate’s XI. We’re not surprised, we know his XI. He’s not going to start.”
When it was mentioned that it is unlikely that England boss Gareth Southgate will field a midfield three of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, Michail Antonio replied, “But you’ve [Ricky Haywood Williams] just answered the question, you don’t think he will and I’m saying, I don’t think he will.”
“Okay, he has his formation. He plays that formation every single time, you don’t really see him switch it up. So, I’m pretty sure, it’s 4-5-1, two sitters, one 10, two widemen, Harry Kane.”
“There’s a sitter available and Phil Foden’s not a sitter, so Jude Bellingham’s going to be number 10.”
“Are you taking out Bellingham for Phil Foden?”
“Are you going to play Declan Rice on his own as a one and put Bellingham and Phil Foden as a two?”
“No”, Michail Antonio also claimed about whether Phil Foden could start on the right flank over Bukayo Saka.
However, Michail Antonio does believe Phil Foden could be used on the left wing by England, saying, “That’s the only place that’s available!”
“To be honest, if we go back actually, it was Declan Rice, Bellingham and then the 10 role, like Phil Foden sometimes came in there and stuff like that. What is crazy is that you could probably do a two but I just can’t see it! Only place that is actually available is the left.”
“I don’t think Phil Foden likes the left because right now, everyone likes the opposite side.”
As upsetting as it is, Phil Foden could tune into proceedings from the sideline at the Euros
Until the penultimate game of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, Foden was on the bench for his nation.
After the Three Lions’ 0-0 draw against USA in which the treble-winner was an unused substitute, Southgate backed his decision not to bring him on by claiming he does not feel he plays in midfield at club level.
As a result, Michail Antonio may have a point about Phil Foden perhaps not being looked at as a midfield option for England, despite playing centrally on several occasions for Manchester City this season.
While the former Middlesbrough boss also tends to stick with players who have delivered for him, such as Harry Maguire and Bukayo Saka and with that in mind, his teams do not tend to change that much.
Having been seated at the Etihad Stadium to witness Foden deliver a masterclass of a performance on derby day, Southgate should however do everything he can to make him the fulcrum of his side.
