Foden faces fresh test as Tuchel seeks to unlock England form

November 13, 2025 Oliver Obel

At club level, Foden’s numbers are elite: over a hundred goals and more than sixty assists in just over 330 appearances. But for England, the picture is starkly different. Since his debut five years ago, the midfielder has managed only four goals in 45 games — a modest return for a player of his creative pedigree.

According to figures reported by Reuters, that tally leaves him well outside England’s top 100 goal scorers, even behind former defenders such as Tony Adams and Gary Cahill.

His last England goal came in September 2023 during a friendly win over Scotland. Before that, his only competitive strike arrived at the 2022 World Cup against Wales. His nine assists offer some compensation, but only one has come since Qatar. For a player who so often dictates matches for City, the gulf in productivity remains baffling.

Club greatness, country frustration

Foden’s struggles with the national team aren’t about effort — they’re about fit. Since his debut, managers have searched for a role that lets him flourish without crowding others in England’s stacked midfield. As BBC Sport noted earlier this year, fatigue and injury have interrupted his progress, including a self-requested rest last summer due to burnout.

When Thomas Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate as England manager, he initially left Foden out of his first squads to maintain team continuity. But with both Foden and Jude Bellingham back in full flow — starring for Manchester City and Real Madrid respectively — Tuchel said their return was inevitable.

“Big names, big personalities, big, big talents,” Tuchel said when announcing his squad, as reported by The Guardian. “It’s great to see them both in rhythm and contributing goals for their clubs. It was a no-brainer.”

The bellingham balance

Their joint return also brings back a familiar tactical headache. Can England accommodate two players who thrive in the same spaces? Under Southgate at Euro 2024, that question never found a satisfying answer. Foden, often pushed to the left flank of a 4-2-3-1 system, struggled to impose himself.

In the quarter-final against Switzerland, he didn’t register a shot or create a chance — numbers that sparked criticism online.

Months later, Foden admitted his frustration in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.

“I feel frustrated I didn’t get out what I wanted to get out of it,” he said. “Playing on the left made it difficult to influence the game. After a season playing centrally for City, it was hard to adjust.”

Tuchel seems intent on avoiding that trap.

Tuchel’s approach: Central to success

In his first matches in charge, Tuchel experimented with Foden’s role — deploying him on the right against Albania, then centrally against Latvia. The latter change paid off when Foden set up Eberechi Eze for England’s third goal in a 3–0 victory.

Speaking afterward, Tuchel clarified his thinking to BBC Sport:

“Jude comes back as a No.10 — that’s his best position. Phil, where he’s been playing for City, is where I see him strongest — central, close to the box, not wide.”

Still, the German coach has warned against fitting names into line-ups just to please headlines. “Great individuals don’t automatically make a great team,” he said. “We’re building cohesion, not collecting talent.”

Pep’s perspective and Foden’s challenge

Back in Manchester, Pep Guardiola has backed Tuchel to manage the balance wisely.

“Thomas knows Phil perfectly,” Guardiola told Reuters. “England are lucky — they’ve got a mountain of good players. That’s why Phil has to keep pushing himself to be better and better.”

Now 25, Foden has rediscovered his spark for City — the same form that made him Premier League Player of the Season two years ago. He’s smiling again, gliding through defenders, and playing with freedom.

But England remains the final test. For all his club achievements, he knows his international story is still unfinished.

Looking ahead

With the World Cup on the horizon, Foden has the chance to finally bridge the gap between the player he is for Manchester City and the one England fans long to see. Tuchel’s England may yet give him that stage — but only if he proves he can shine in white as brightly as he does in sky blue.

Sources: BBC Sport, The Guardian, Manchester Evening News, Reuters