Phil Foden reacts to claims he can't play in same England team as Jude Bellingham

Phil Foden has dismissed suggestions that he cannot play in the same team as Jude Bellingham as England struggle to get the best out of their top stars at Euro 2024.

A Daily Mail headline this week claimed that Foden and Bellingham "look like the new Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard", referencing the shortcomings of England's last golden generation.

Gerrard and Lampard, whilst individually among the best players in the world for their respective club sides, never truly clicked in the same midfield when it came to England duty.

Foden and Bellingham are currently in a similar boat.

Each player had the best season of their career in 2023/24, with the former scoring 27 goals for Manchester City and the latter getting 23 for Real Madrid. Foden was named FWA Footballer of the Year, while Bellingham was the driving force behind Madrid’s record-extending 15th Champions League triumph. But with England at Euro 2024, Foden has struggled to be involved when operating from the left wing and Bellingham has stood out in flashes rather than consistently.

"I have shown this season for City that I have moved more centrally and the goals have gone up and I have influenced more games. I have always been honest about my position and I have always seen myself as playing midfield," Foden commented ahead of facing Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

"I don't agree [that I can't play with Bellingham], I feel it can click in the last games."

Despite some outstanding attacking talent, England have scored four goals across four games at Euro 2024 – including Harry Kane's extra-time winner against Slovakia. The Three Lions were on the verge of heading home in that game until Bellingham struck deep into stoppage time to equalise.

Switzerland are a well drilled side and were close to beating Germany in the group stage, as well as convincingly knocking out Italy in the last 16.

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