TORRES TREBLE AS SPAIN HIT GERMANS FOR SIX:
Southgate’s training fun with Foden bodes well for fallen star
GARETH SOUTHGATE revealed with some glee yesterday that he had defeated Phil Foden in a training- ground skills head- to- head at the England camp.
It was a surprise reverse for a 20- yearold midfield player against a 50- year- old former defender but, even if the result was an embarrassing one for Foden, the fact the pair have been jovially duelling together is overwhelmingly positive for the Manchester City starlet.
It was an indicator that a relationship fractured before it had time to get started by Foden’s bubble- popping after his England debut in Iceland – and subsequent exclusion from the squad – has healed.
“I made sure we chatted on the first day and put that behind us immediately,” said Southgate. “It was done once we had made the decision on the October squad. From then on it was always going to be a judgment on football.
“I’m sure for anybody walking back in initially that is going to feel a little bit difficult, especially when you’re young, but definitely as the week has gone on, he has been more relaxed. I gave him a bit of a hiding at two- touch yesterday, which he was probably a little bit upset about, but he’s in with the group, he’s relaxed and that’s what’s important because to be able to play his football properly, that’s where everybody needs to be.” However far Foden’s England career goes – and there is a good chance after the initial blip it will go a long way – the mention of Iceland will always have a bittersweet resonance to it. The return fixture, in what is the deadest of Nations League dead- rubbers at Wembley tonight, may not spin the football world on its axis, but it will be of personal significance to Foden. After reintegrating Foden into the side with half an hour off the bench against the Republic of Ireland last week, there is likely to be a starting role tonight.
“It was good to get him into the game against Ireland and it will be good to get Phil into the game tomorrow,” said Southgate. “I am sure he has relished the chance to be back with the squad. We know he is a very exciting talent and he is a player who we have a lot of belief in and who Manchester City have a lot of belief in – so this could be a good opportunity for him to show everybody what he can do.
“What has impressed me with Phil in the camps in which we have worked with him, is that he has a real hunger to score goals. He has impressed us with that attribute of his game in particular.”
England could do with goals from somewhere after a barren Nations League campaign featuring just three in five matches.
Southgate, it seems, is set on his 3- 4- 3 formation so Iceland is another opportunity to try to make the system work more productively going forward.
While the 2- 0 defeat to Belgium on Sunday ended their qualification hopes, the bigger picture is the countdown clock to the Euros next summer.
Southgate added: “This group of players have been excellent in their response to the disappointment of the other night and this game will be a different tactical challenge to the last couple of games.”