Phil Foden's Rocky Road Highlights the Challenges from Prodigy to Senior Glory
Nine years after winning the 2017 Under-17 World Cup Golden Ball, Phil Foden's prospects on the World Cup stage remain uncertain, proving that a prodigy's promise is no guarantee of sustained international glory.
England's development system, known through initiatives like the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) and the DNA project, is credited with creating depth and a pathway that has translated success at the youth level to senior achievements. This is evident as the senior team has reached two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final, while the under-21 side secured two European titles.
Foden has been a regular for England since 2020 but faced interruptions in his international career; he was left out of June's squad due to personal reasons, missed the September internationals, and only returned in November.
At the club level, Thomas Tuchel has stressed the importance of team balance over individual selection. Tuchel noted that players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Foden cannot all fit into his preferred system simultaneously, instead favoring specialist wide players who stretch the play.
Foden's role differs between club and country. While he often plays as a winger or wide attacker for England, his ability to move infield suits Manchester City's tactical setup better, making him less of a direct fit for the national team formation.
Despite these challenges, Foden started every game for England at Euro 2024 and was named Premier League Player of the Season, reflecting his high-level club performances. He scored five goals in his last three league games, demonstrating form and impact on the field.
However, Manchester City has shown defensive vulnerabilities, conceding twice to Leeds and four goals to Fulham in recent matches, indicating ongoing balancing issues within the team framework.
