Thomas Tuchel has cast doubt on Phil Foden's place in England's World Cup squad, following the forward's lacklustre performances in recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. The Manchester City star started both matches at Wembley but failed to make an impact, raising questions about his form and fitness ahead of this summer's tournament.
Tuchel, who took charge of England in early 2025, has given Foden opportunities in the No 10 role, but the 25-year-old has struggled to replicate his club form. 'Phil tried everything,' Tuchel said. 'He was excellent in camp but struggles to show it on the pitch. He didn't have a lot of minutes for City recently.'
Foden has lost his place at Manchester City, starting only twice in the Premier League since mid-January. He was an unused substitute in both legs of City's Champions League exit to Real Madrid and has not scored since December 14. His only start under Tuchel before this window came in the head coach's first match in March 2025.
Tuchel faces tough decisions in selecting his No 10s for the World Cup, with competition from Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze. When asked if he could take a struggling player to the tournament, Tuchel replied, 'I can. But the question would be if we will. It's not a guarantee that he will come.'
