Phil Foden insists England’s best players are to blame for some poor performances at Euro 2024 and says he “feels bad” for fireless manager Gareth Southgate.
England are preparing for their quarter-final clash with Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday night after stumbling into the last eight.
Southgate’s side lead Group C by just five points after a string of poor displays and then needed Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time header to take their last 16 clash with Slovakia into extra time, where Harry Kane returned to form the winner.
The road to a place in the semi-finals now sees England face Switzerland, who have knocked out defending champions Italy.
‘The players have to take some of the blame’
Foden said he was “sad” for Southgate and wanted the England squad leader to move on
It will certainly take a better performance from England as Foden admits that he and his teammates have not been expected so far.
“I think the players are to blame,” said the Manchester City forward.
“There has to be some leadership that can get together and find a solution to why it’s not working. There’s only so much a manager can do. They set you up in a system and tell you how to hit it. If not, that’s how it should be.”
With club managers like Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp having worked with several players in the current England squad, the criticism for the negative performance in Germany rests largely on Southgate’s shoulders.
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Gareth Southgate reflects on England’s win over Slovakia to progress to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and what he needs to do to keep his spirits up and improve his performance.
“I feel sorry for Gareth,” added Foden when asked about the manager’s pressure.
“He hasn’t decided to do that. In training, he has told us to press and go up the pitch and I think sometimes, it has to come from the players.
“We have to be the leaders and I feel like in the game we can regroup and come up with a solution.
“So yes, I think we’ve talked about it and if it happens again in the game, we can get together and find a solution and see if it’s wrong and adapt our press.”
Foden wants to change the narrative about British performances
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Former Three Lions defender Gary Neville believes England need to step up and take risks if they are to beat Switzerland in the quarter-finals as the Swiss have been impressive in the tournament so far.
Foden returned home after the final group game and victory over Slovakia to give birth to his third child and joked that he was “30 seconds away from making the baby feed at home” before Bellingham’s final attack in Gelsenkirchen.
While Bellingham now have two goals in four games at the Euros, Foden is still yet to replicate the club’s form in an England shirt but he is looking to change that narrative in the coming weeks.
“I haven’t been the best player in the Premier League to come here and not show it,” the 24-year-old said.
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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford says fans need to keep faith in Gareth Southgate’s side and admits they need the country.
“So I feel like every game I’m getting better and better and hopefully I can do well for England, which is always my aim to show for the national team.
“The first game was very quiet, the way the game went, I didn’t have much going forward for me. I felt like the next game after I grew up. I came close a few times – I was offside at the end. It’s just a game.
“Against Denmark, I hit the post. I think that my performance from the first game is very good and if nobody says anything and that’s how football is.”
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The Independent’s Miguel Delaney and The Athletic’s David Ornstein discuss whether England will return to a back three against Switzerland.
Drifting in the middle often saw Foden occupying the same position on the pitch to Bellingham, with questions over whether the duo could co-exist in the same England team – but Foden was convinced when the suggestion was put to him.
“I don’t agree, I think we can work together,” he said.
“That’s just the way the game is sometimes and the way football is, I feel like the last game we did well, in terms of keeping the ball more, we increased the pressure at the end, I feel like. Hopefully we can click together in the game end.”
