MANCHESTER, England — England manager Thomas Tuchel is undoubtedly aware of Phil Foden’s exceptional talent, but his performance in Manchester City’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund served as a timely reminder. As Tuchel finalizes his squad on Friday for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, Foden’s two goals at the Etihad Stadium could not have come at a better time. Having been excluded from the last three national team rosters due to a combination of injury, mental fatigue, and form issues, the 25-year-old is racing against time to secure his place on the plane for next summer’s World Cup across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. His display against Dortmund underscored why he deserves to be at the tournament. Tuchel faces the challenge of selecting from a wealth of attacking talent, and with performances like Foden’s, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify leaving him out. “Thomas is incredibly astute and understands the national team’s needs perfectly; he knows Phil intimately,” commented City manager Pep Guardiola. “Everyone, both in this country and globally, recognizes Foden’s quality and ability. However, England is fortunate to have a plethora of exceptional players in this position. Phil must continually strive to elevate his game, and when called to represent England, he needs to seize the opportunity to demonstrate his prowess.” Foden was at his best during this match—dynamic, energetic, and a constant threat even in tight spaces. Few players possess the confidence to demand the ball while surrounded by defenders, and even fewer can transform challenging situations into scoring opportunities. Playing a central role under Guardiola, Foden achieved this twice against Dortmund, marking his first UEFA Champions League brace. Guardiola recounted that his team struggled to find their footing in the initial ten minutes but quickly turned the tide once Foden engaged with the ball. Midway through the first half, Foden received a seemingly innocuous pass from Tijjani Reijnders. Despite the visitors’ strong defensive setup, he utilized three deft touches to maneuver, creating space before delivering a left-footed finish into the bottom corner. It was a goal that left opposing players bewildered, searching for answers as to how it had unfolded. Foden’s second goal was equally impressive. Once again, he transformed a straightforward pass just outside the penalty area into a spectacular score. Encircled by three Dortmund defenders, he deftly navigated through their ranks and found the net with his trademark left foot. Ramy Bensebaini, the Dortmund defender, resorted to a foul in an attempt to thwart him, but it was to no avail; the ball zipped past the diving Dortmund goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel. By the time Bensebaini regained his balance, Foden was already celebrating with his teammates by the corner flag. “We’ve witnessed countless goals like these from Phil over the years,” Guardiola remarked. “We missed his presence significantly last season and even this season. I have no doubt he will be a major asset for us. He possesses the confidence to score goals like this—not by shooting powerfully, but by placing the ball accurately near the post. In that regard, Phil is exceptional. “This season, he is back. When Phil is at this level, playing in between the lines and exploiting space, the outcome is often favorable. While he is a special player, we will need his goals moving forward.” Foden has done all he can to force his way back into the England squad, and the ball is now in Tuchel’s court. The German coach has emphasized the importance of the collective over individual talents, which partly explains his hesitance to recall Jude Bellingham, who, like Foden, was omitted from the October internationals. As Tuchel charts a course toward World Cup success, the challenge remains: how to integrate Foden, Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane, and others into a cohesive team. This dilemma mirrors the struggles faced by former England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2024, where Foden found himself sidelined on the left wing despite being crowned the Premier League’s best player shortly before. There are valid concerns that Foden has yet to fully rediscover his peak form since that tournament in Germany, where he arrived as a hopeful star but departed feeling out of place. With the World Cup presenting England’s next opportunity to capture their first trophy in 60 years, Foden’s performance against Dortmund serves as a crucial reminder to Tuchel of his undeniable potential.
