Phil Foden admits he’d rather start in midfield with England ace out to ‘show why he’s Premier League’s best player’
DARTS fan Phil Foden has thrown three 180s at the team hotel in Germany — but the country is still waiting for him to hit the target at Euro 2024.
The Manchester City man’s performances in all four games have been hugely frustrating, not just for fans screaming at the TV back home but for the player himself.
And it is now crucial that against Switzerland in the quarter-final on Saturday, the Premier League’s player-of-the-season delivers the type of dazzling performance we saw regularly for City.
In England’s media centre at Blankenhain Castle yesterday, Foden was asked why after such a terrific campaign, he was not clicking with Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and also Bukayo Saka.
Foden, 24, said: “I don’t know but I’ve been a little frustrated. I am not going to lie.
“I want to score, to do better things for England. It has not worked out but it is about keeping a good mentality.
“I have not been the best player in the Premier League to come here and not show it.
“I feel like every game, I have been moving forward and hopefully, I can put on some good performances and that has always been my aim for England.”
Manager Gareth Southgate stands accused of not playing all of his players in their best positions and the obvious case is Foden.
He has been stuck out on the left, even though he has interchanged with Real Madrid star Bellingham, 21, during games although not to much effect.
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Foden’s best moments in games so far, including hitting the post against Denmark and having a goal disallowed for offside against Slovakia, have come from central positions.
And he said: “For City, I have moved more centrally and the goals have gone up.
“I have been influenced by more games.“I have always been honest about my position and seen myself as playing in midfield.
“Even though I have started on the left for England, I’ve drifted into those other positions.
“It is more how we have been on the ball. They have not been able to find me because of the way the games have gone.
“We have not had many attacks in some games. We have had to dig deep and I am hoping no games are the same and that against Switzerland, I do see more of the ball and that our pressing is good.
“My first game out here was very quiet. I feel that in the games after that, I grew into the tournament.
“I came close a few times. I feel like my performances from the first game have improved.”
The biggest question on everyone’s lips is why he cannot play well with boy wonder Bellingham.
He said: “No I don’t agree with that, I feel like we do work well together. It’s just the way the games have gone.
“In the last game against Slovakia, we did build on things really well in terms of keeping the ball a lot more.
“We piled pressure on at the end and I feel we can click together in the next game.”
One thing Foden is grateful for was Bellingham’s wonder goal against Slovakia — as it meant he could avoid baby duties for a few more days.
He had returned to Germany from England after being present at the birth of his third child, a boy.
Talking about Bellingham’s leveller, Foden said: “I thought I’m 30 seconds away from doing baby feeds at home . . . so thanks to Jude for that. It saved me there! It’s unbelievable what he did. It just sums Jude up — he never gives up until the end.”
Foden revealed it had been planned that he would return to England in the build-up to the Slovakia game.
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He added: “It was arranged. Gareth’s really good with things like that.
“Obviously it was mad to go back home and come back out but the main focus is trying to win the Euros.”
Foden, who has scored just four goals in 38 caps, knows England face a tough game against the impressive Swiss who will include his City team-mate Manuel Akanji.
He added: “From what I’ve seen, they’ve been very good on the ball.
“So we are going to have to get the press right.
“I obviously know Akanji and he is unbelievable on the ball. He is someone who shows so much composure when he is getting pressed under pressure. He is an unbelievable player so let’s hope he has an off-day.”
If England do beat the Swiss, that would set up a semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday against Holland or Turkey.
It will also mean Foden gets a few more days to challenge his team-mates on the oche.
He said: “I love darts. I started playing at about eight or nine. I always had a board up in the house.
“No one’s beat me here yet. It’s been going good up until now. I’ve had three 180s on this camp which I’m proud of.
“I’ve been playing Eze a lot. The more I beat him, the more he tries to play me. Which I like because that’s the mentality I’ve got.
“When I’m losing I always want to play again and that’s what he’s like. Every time I beat him he’s like, ‘get your darts, we go again’.”