England and Manchester City player Phil Foden sends back a reply to Cesc Fabregas after open criticism on his performance against Serbia in the Euro 2024 tournament

The Manchester City forward Phil Foden played all 90 minutes of England’s first Euro 2024 game against Serbia, but he was criticized for how he played after the game.

No one really stood out in the team effort. It was Jude Bellingham who scored the goal, who was a little ahead of his teammates. Other than that, there was no clear winner, and England got a much-needed first win at Euro 2024.

But England needs a victim all the time, even when they win. Please stand up, Phil Foden.

The Premier League Player of the Year and Manchester City player started on the left, where he usually plays for City. He looked good with the ball in the first half.

England was more fluid down the right side, and the only goal came from a deflection that Bukayo Saka received from Kyle Walker. Some players blocked Foden’s path, but he kept his shape and mostly kept the ball. He doesn’t have those chances for England on Sunday night because Bellingham was at No. 10 and Harry Kane was dropping deep to try to get into the game.

City, on the other hand, has Kevin De Bruyne roaming the middle and Erling Haaland staying up top to stretch the defense. Foden does the same thing for Chelsea that he does for Manchester City, but this is a totally different scheme. Jordan Pickford kept sending long goals, but a Serbian defender always headed them back.

That strategy doesn’t work for Foden; he needs the ball to be played to him.

For real, Foden was lucky to stay on the field during the sloppy second half. By the end of the game, it was clear that he wasn’t going to help England attack, and as the game went on, England’s ability to keep the ball was getting worse. They should have saved his legs and tried something else instead. There were times when Jack Grealish should have come on and just kept the ball, but that’s a different discussion.

When the game was over, the BBC studio was filled with the refreshingly honest Cesc Fabregas. He picked Foden as the main target of his criticism. “It’s all about the mindset,” said the player who used to play for Barcelona, Arsenal, and Spain. “You can’t tell me that players like Foden, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, and Rice don’t have the skills to hold the ball anywhere on the field,”

“The question is whether you want it badly enough to hold the ball for your team and effect change?” Do you wish for things to occur? Like to put pressure on the ball?

“Never see Xavi or Iniesta do that. They are two of the best players of the last 15, 20, years.” You need to grow by taking on this duty. Thought the second half wasn’t as good as the first. That is, in my opinion, the right word. For example, Foden and other players need to step up. They should go into the big event with the support of their country.

The criticism is tough but fair because it is based on one bad game. After Foden’s season, though, it’s not fair to question his mental health. All of Foden’s individual awards this season came from him “stepping up.” England had a bad game against a very good defense, but that doesn’t change anything.