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Foden (left) was an unused substitute successful England's scoreless gully with the United States connected Friday| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live connected BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full sum details |
England brag Gareth Southgate insists Phil Foden inactive has a "big part" to play successful the country's World Cup run contempt playing a bit-part relation successful the archetypal 2 radical matches.
Eyebrows were raised erstwhile Southgate opted not to bring Foden connected during England's draw with the United States.
"We emotion Phil, he's a ace player," said Southgate, who has guided England to 4 points from 2 games successful Qatar.
"He's going to play a large portion successful this tourney for us."
Foden, who has has scored 7 goals successful 14 Premier League games for Manchester City this season, has earned 19 England caps since making his debut successful 2020.
However, aft being introduced precocious successful England's Group B win implicit Iran, helium was near connected the seat during the goalless gully with USA arsenic Southgate alternatively chose to bring connected Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford successful the quest for a breakthrough.
While Southgate admits it is intolerable to support "everyone happy", helium has praised Foden's cognition up of Tuesday's last radical crippled against Wales.
"Phil's mentality to grooming and the mode he's approaching everything is excellent," added Southgate.
Asked however Foden tin acceptable into the team, Southgate said: "There are antithetic possibilities. He tin play connected either flank and tin play arsenic a mendacious 9 if we chose to bash that.
"He tin play disconnected of a striker, though helium doesn't bash that arsenic overmuch astatine nine level truthful that's possibly applicable to definite games oregon definite moments.
"He's a precise flexible subordinate successful presumption of the attributes helium has and wherever helium tin person an impact. He's a extremity threat, which is besides precise important."
England request to debar a four-goal decision connected Tuesday to advancement to the past 16, portion Wales indispensable triumph and anticipation for a gully betwixt the United States and Iran to basal immoderate accidental of progressing.
Asked if helium feels added unit astir taking connected different location nation, Southgate said: "None much than normal. We recognise this is simply a crippled with a batch of absorption due to the fact that it's a section derby, but we're England - everyone wants to bushed us.
"There are precocious expectations each clip we're connected the pitch. We've got to absorption connected playing arsenic good arsenic we tin portion showing that composure and ruthlessness that's going to beryllium needed to win."
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