Gareth Southgate, the head coach of the England national team, is facing a dilemma as he tries to figure out how to best utilize two talented players, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham. Foden, who plays for Manchester City, and Bellingham, who plays for Real Madrid, have both been in top form recently, winning player of the season awards in their respective leagues.
In England’s recent match against Serbia, Bellingham scored the only goal of the game and put in a strong performance. However, Foden seemed to struggle to find his rhythm and make an impact on the game. Southgate has some decisions to make about how to best set up his team to accommodate both players.
One option for Southgate is to keep Bellingham in an advanced position and Foden on the left flank, hoping that their chemistry improves over time. Another option is to move Bellingham into a deeper midfield role, allowing Foden to play more centrally. However, this may not be the best use of Bellingham’s talents, as he has excelled in a more attacking role recently.
A third option would be to leave Foden out of the starting lineup and bring in a more natural left-sided player. This could be a harsh decision, considering Foden’s strong performances for Manchester City, but it may be necessary to find the right balance in the team.
Southgate has praised Foden’s defensive efforts, and upcoming matches against Denmark and Slovenia will provide different tactical challenges. Denmark, in particular, will be a tough test for England, as they are a skilled team with attacking threats of their own.
As Southgate continues to tinker with his lineup and tactics, the key will be finding the right balance between Foden and Bellingham to ensure that England can live up to its potential in the Euro 2024 tournament. The coach’s decisions in the coming matches will be crucial in determining the team’s success.