Micah Richards defends Phil Foden and claims he can be England's 'BEST player' at Euro 2024... but...

Richards: Foden Can Be England's Best At Euro 2024

Posted: 5:28 PM on June 20th, 2024 | Revised: 6:06 PM on June 20th, 2024

Micah Richards thinks that Phil Foden has the potential to become England's top player in the Euro 2024 tournament.

The expert stated that his individual showing against Serbia was mainly influenced by the choices made by the team - however, he believes he can adopt a characteristic from Jude Bellingham in order to succeed.

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand stated that Foden's fellow England players prefer to pass to three different stars and that his importance at Manchester City is not as high when playing for the national team.

Foden received negative feedback for his unnoticeable performance during England's 1-0 victory against Serbia in their first game. He found it difficult to make a difference playing on the left side.

'He's feeling disappointed. Phil Foden is the most skilled player on the team when it comes to playing in small areas. Pass the ball to him quickly,' Richards shared with BBC Sport before England's game against Denmark.

Micah Richards thinks Phil Foden has the potential to become England's top player during Euro 2024, but he needs to display more confidence and flair on the field, similar to Jude Bellingham.

The expert believes that Foden's fellow players should pass the ball to him faster when he is in close quarters.

You don't want him playing in that role because he won't be able to effectively challenge the other team in that position, especially when he is positioned too far out or away from the action.

He has the ability to perform on either side of the field. His clever tactics enable him to make strategic moves to get past the defense. Additionally, he has the skill to accurately deliver the ball into the box.

The important thing is to get the ball to our top competitors as soon as possible who can really hurt the other team, and we're failing to do that.

When you watch Bellingham, you can see the confidence and authority he exudes on the pitch. We are looking for Phil Foden to display that same level of self-assurance and prove his abilities as a top player.

Bellingham was named the standout player for his outstanding performance against Serbia, scoring a powerful header off a Bukayo Saka pass.

That was the lone score in the match and Bellingham received a lot of praise for his skill in controlling the pace of play.

Ferdinand thinks that Foden should be more confident in asking for the ball.

He said: 'I believe he wants the ball badly and is calling out for it. You need to communicate with someone when they have the ball. He gets upset and it's obvious when the ball is passed to someone else.'

Rio Ferdinand thinks Foden should be more confident and strong in asking for the ball during games.

Players are focusing on giving the ball to Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka, according to Ferdinand.

To be successful in the game, make sure you're calling out for the ball before it reaches you. If it doesn't come your way, don't be afraid to be assertive and tell your teammates directly: "Pass me the ball."

Field your top players in their respective positions. It's important for the team to have discussions about this.

Teams figure out who their star player is and discuss it in the locker room and during games, with the common strategy being to pass the ball to them.

'He may be a key player at Manchester City, but he doesn't hold the same status on the England team currently. They are prioritizing Jude, Harry, and Saka over him.'