Juan Mata is wary of one Manchester City player heading into the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England.
Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker will be hoping that they can help Gareth Southgate’s side get over the finish line and their side becomes one of the greatest teams in the country’s history.
While England are perhaps not as fancied as Spain are to win the contest due to the respective teams’ quality of performances at the tournament, it can be argued that they have more difference-makers on the pitch in the attacking department.
The likes of Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka are all capable of turning up in any game in world football and making a statement.
The same can be said about Foden — who will be rubbing his hands at making a statement on Sunday after admitting after the European Championship semi-final against the Netherlands that he had his best-ever game in an England shirt.
Juan Mata shares his honest verdict on Man City star ahead of Euro 2024 final
The £225,000-a-week man could not have picked a better game to start looking closer to his best version.
After looking visibly frustrated in the previous rounds of the competition, Foden will be entering the final feeling at ease and full of self-belief.
The Stockport-born technician has a chance to put in an inspired display that will be discussed amongst future generations of English supporters as one that change the course of their history.
When quizzed about which player he regards as England’s most dangerous ahead of their clash against Spain, Juan Mata named Foden on FIVE’s official YouTube channel.
“Phil Foden.”
Rio Ferdinand asked if Juan Mata sees a bit of himself in the 24-year-old.
Mata replied: “I wish” before proceeding to laugh.
The retired midfielder continued: “I love this kind of player. So, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, [Martin] Odegaard, this type of player I love and of course, in England, Phil, I mean, the season that he had was incredible.”
“He’s still not so old and he’s won so many trophies and of course, some people I know, they’re saying he’s not performing at the same level as Man City but of course, you need the environment around you at play at the best level.”
“You’re a player like him or like me, you need players around to play and move and pass. But I think he’s dangerous and when he receives in those little pockets, he can fire the shot.”
Phil Foden can use his shooting to trouble Spain for England
As Juan Mata stated, Foden is especially dangerous when he picks up pockets of space outside the box and fires in a shot at goal.
Often, such high-profile finals tend to be quite cagey as both teams in question are wary of taking unnecessary risks and losing the game.
As the contest in question tends to become quite stale, it takes one moment of magic to turn the game on its head.
Foden is well-capable of doing so against Spain with his shooting as he long as he is found by his teammates with room to fire up a shot — which has proven to be a lethal weapon in his arsenal since last season.
Considering England are not expected to have much of the ball against Luis de la Fuente’s side on Sunday, they will have to come good in moments.
Foden is exactly the kind of player who can do that and unless the woodwork chooses to deny him for the third time at Euro 2024, he has the technique, power and accuracy in his shooting to score a wondergoal.
