Foden’s potential just so exciting, says Southgate
ANDORRA ENGLAND 0 5
GARETH Southgate believes it is “fabulously exciting” to see what Phil Foden can do in an England shirt after he starred in the comfortable World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on Saturday.
The Manchester City forward may not have got on the scoresheet, but put in an eye-catching display.
Ben Chilwell’s first England goal got the ball rolling, with Bukayo Saka doubling the lead before half-time.
Tammy Abraham toasted his first international appearance in almost a year by adding the third, with James Ward-Prowse tapping home the rebound after he saw a penalty saved as Jack Grealish also grabbed his maiden Three Lions goal late on.
Foden was heavily involved in the Chilwell goal before playing a fine pass for Saka to strike, with pundit Roy Keane likening his play to that of fabled NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
Southgate, too, was left purring at the ability of the 21-year-old, and said: “It is difficult (to predict his best position) because frankly he is one of those players who is effective anywhere across that front line.
“If you play him seven, 11, ten, eight. A sort of traditional 4-3-3 midfield with a six, eight, ten, if he was the ten within that, but with the capability to drop lower and build the play at times like he did tonight.
“Part of that is just as he gets stronger as well and part of that will be the balance of the type of player who plays as the other eight and their qualities.
“Look, it’s fabulously exciting isn’t it? When you are trying to break down a defence as we had tonight, and you’ve got a player who can see the passes he sees and can execute them in the way that he did.
“The quality we know. For us it’s really interesting, the possibilities with him in terms of his positioning moving forward.
“Towards the end of the game there were some lovely combinations – Foden, (Mason) Mount, Grealish, Saka. The type of play that our players are capable of producing is really exciting.”
Andorra head coach Koldo Alvarez singled out Foden for praise, but felt his own side struggled to reach their best levels.
“I think both things have been of influence here, we have been suffering a lot at the back the whole match,” he replied when asked if England shone because of their own performance or the display of the hosts.
“But of course if you have players of the quality of Foden with those kinds of passes, then it is difficult for us. They have had almost no risks (defensively) and after the first goal we have seen that in fact we have been suffering too much.
“I think the second half was a bit better, but we have made more mistakes than during other matches.”
England have a four-point cushion at the top of Group I ahead of their home clash with Hungary tomorrow evening.
Andorra: Gomes, Jesus Rubio, Christian Garcia (Lima 31, Emili Garcia 63), Vales, Llovera, Marc Garcia, Cristian Martinez (Alaez 64), Rebes, Xavier Vieira, Jordi Rubio (Cervos 82), Sanchez (Fernandez 64). Not Used: Iker, Moreno, De Pablos, Pujol, Pires.
Booked: Cristian Martinez, Rebes.
England: Johnstone, Trippier, Stones (Tomori 60), Coady, Chilwell, Lingard (Mount 73), Ward-Prowse, Foden, Saka, Abraham (Watkins 80), Sancho (Grealish 73). Not Used: Rice, Mings, Ramsdale, Kane, Henderson, Sterling, Walker, Pickford.
Booked: Stones, Sancho, Coady.
Goals: Chilwell 17, Saka 40, Abraham 59, Ward-Prowse 79, Grealish 86.
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine).