Phil Foden's omission from England's World Cup squad has been explained by manager Thomas Tuchel, who admitted he was unsure of the Manchester City forward's best position after a difficult season at club level. The 25-year-old was left out of Tuchel's 26-man squad for the tournament, a decision that the German said "hurt me a lot" to communicate to the player.
Tuchel's Explanation
Speaking to Talksport, Tuchel revealed that Foden's recent form for City had been inconsistent, with only brief glimpses of his usual quality. "With Phil it’s a little bit different because Phil was excellent in camp for us," Tuchel said. "He was not only excellent in training, but also off training. He was open, he was in good spirits."
However, the England boss added that Foden's lack of game time and positional uncertainty at City made it difficult to justify his inclusion. "I was not even sure in the end what position his position is. Is it a 10? Is it a false nine? Is it maybe more a Bernardo Silva role in the future as a number eight?" Tuchel said. "It is maybe not on the wing anymore, so it does not also make sense for me to just bring players and then play them out of position to have them in camp."
Impact on Foden
Tuchel acknowledged the emotional toll on Foden, who had been a key figure in previous England camps. "And it hurt me a lot, actually, to call him and to tell him this decision. I could see in his reaction how much it affects him, how much it would have meant for him to come," Tuchel said.
The manager also noted that Foden's loss of momentum at a crucial stage of the season was a decisive factor. "He lost momentum in a crucial moment of the season and basically the last half of the season, we could see glimpses here and there but not a lot of evidence," he added.
Competition for Places
Tuchel highlighted the intense competition for attacking positions in the England squad, with players like Cole Palmer also missing out. "The two names were very difficult ones," he said, referring to Foden and Palmer. The decision, he insisted, was made to ensure players were comfortable and playing in their natural roles, rather than being forced into unfamiliar positions.
