Gareth Southgate has defended his decision to leave Phil Foden on the bench during England's goalless draw with the USA at the World Cup, insisting the Manchester City star was not the right fit for the central role. The 22-year-old watched from the sidelines as Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish were introduced as substitutes, while Mason Mount played the full 90 minutes behind Harry Kane.
Southgate explained that he opted for Grealish and Rashford due to their different attributes, but they failed to provide the spark needed to break down a resilient American defence. 'We've got some very good forwards that we can bring into the game,' Southgate said. 'In the wide areas we decided on Jack and Marcus instead of Phil because we thought their different attributes were what would help us get over the line.'
The result was a reality check for England after their 6-2 thrashing of Iran, and the team were booed off at full time. Captain Harry Kane admitted the side lacked clinical finishing, saying: 'We had two or three opportunities and didn't put it away. A draw isn't bad for us, but we know we can play better.'
Pundits were critical of Southgate's selection, with Gary Neville expressing disappointment that Foden did not feature. 'For me that talent is huge,' Neville told ITV. 'For Foden not to be in the starting XI, and to not come off the bench, is interesting.' Micah Richards echoed the sentiment on BBC Radio 5 Live, calling it 'a massive mistake' not to use Foden.
England now face Wales in their final group game on Tuesday, needing a point to guarantee progress to the knockout stages.
