Gareth Southgate has revealed why Phil Foden was an unused substitute against USA, as England were held to a 0-0 draw.
As the Three Lions failed to get a successive win in the World Cup, their biggest flaw was their lack of creativity on the night.
The attacking quartet of Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane simply could not find any answers behind the underdogs’ backline.
While Foden was expected to come on in order to change things at 0-0, he watched on from the sidelines as his nation huffed and puffed going forward.
Southgate explains why Foden was not brought onto proceedings
Speaking after the contest, Gareth Southgate justified the fact that Phil Foden was an unused substitute against USA.
“We didn’t feel it was right for Phil in the middle because he doesn’t play there for his club”, he was quoted saying by journalist Miguel Delaney.
The England boss’ justification makes little to no sense
First things first, one can acknowledge that since the Sky Blues poster boy’s ascent, he has largely operated on either flank, or as false 9.
However, the primary factor behind his positioning is due to the fact that City have some of the best midfielders in the world in creative positions.
Namely the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
England, on the contrary have the gifted Mason Mount at their disposal, who has underwhelmed at the international stage so far.
If Manchester City were not blessed with a whole host of incredible creative midfielders, Phil Foden would be running the show in the middle of the park.
To not bring on the only natural No.10 at his disposal, and instead introduce a defensive-minded Jordan Henderson to proceedings aligns with the brittle rationale in Southgate’s post-match comment.
