Phil Foden is likely to be the initial victim of Thomas Tuchel’s era with England, as Marcus Rashford persists in making Ruben Amorim appear foolish…
Thomas Tuchel's method with the press since taking on the role of England's manager has been invigorating, and we ought to have anticipated nothing less than straightforward, no-nonsense honesty aimed at one objective: securing victory in the 2026 World Cup.
In contrast to Gareth Southgate, Tuchel will not get caught up in unnecessary political distractions or the tedious controversy surrounding the national anthem singing. He’s a consistent victor with a demonstrated history in competitions, so that is rightly where his attention is directed.
Following his daring choices for his initial England squad, Tuchel displayed equal courage in selecting his starting lineup for his team's first World Cup qualifier against Albania on Friday evening.
Arsenal's young Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup final star Dan Burn received their first senior England caps, while Foden, Rashford, Curtis Jones, and Kyle Walker were also in the starting lineup.
In his pre-match press conferences, Tuchel vowed to bring “excitement” to Three Lions fans, highlighting “hunger” among the seven attributes missing in England’s Euro 2024 final defeat.
Because of Southgate’s poor strategies, England struggled in the flanks at last summer’s European Championships. Tuchel aims to correct that, and one of his wingers clearly demonstrated what the manager is asking for during the 2-0 victory over Albania.
The player in focus is Rashford, who is causing Manchester United manager Amorim to appear more foolish as his comeback persisted at Wembley.
Rashford hasn't returned to his best form yet, but he showcased several promising moments in a positive display. His straightforward running and intense efforts both with and without the ball (yes, he did track back, Ruben) provided insight into what may lie ahead for England and Aston Villa if he continues on this trajectory.
It was yet another disappointing evening for Foden while wearing an England shirt, however.
Leading into the Euros, there was a debate that Southgate needed to include Foden in his starting XI since he was arguably the top player in the Premier League for 2023/24. England's ex-manager complied, awkwardly fitting the Man City player into the team on his less dominant foot as a left winger or unproductive No. 10.
Foden fans have retreated into the background this season as he participates in the Man City issues with Pep Guardiola’s team tired, but due to circumstances (Bukayo Saka’s injury), he received another chance to start in Tuchel’s opening match.
Rashford seized his opportunity, Harry Kane was excellent as always from deep and netted a stunning second, Jude Bellingham orchestrated the play and brilliantly assisted Lewis-Skelly’s opener, but Foden was clearly the weak link in the front four and entirely unnoticeable on the right side.
Foden is a unique talent and his smooth touches often make him a pleasure to watch, but his display lacked depth, and his failure to get past defenders (similar to Rashford) will hinder him under Tuchel.
There are few guaranteed starters in the England squad, but Saka is sure to be Tuchel’s top choice for right-winger when the Arsenal star regains fitness, while Anthony Gordon is another viable alternative.
Rashford demonstrated precisely what Tuchel desires from his England wingers, and Saka’s skills align much more closely with this model compared to Foden’s.
Bellingham’s Rolls Royce display in his free role sealed another fate for Foden; he won’t have a chance in the No.10 spot when Tuchel boasts a fully fit team.
Albania posed a somewhat tough challenge for England and Tuchel will be pleased that his initial match was filled with positives, but Foden stood out as the primary downside and he will struggle to find a definite role in this squad as the World Cup approaches.
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