Southgate has major England call to make with Gordon as Carragher and Richards get it spot on

Aaron Stokes

17 June 2024 at 10:38 am·2-min read

England got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start but not without criticism after a workmanlike display against Serbia. The Three Lions recorded a 1-0 win in Gelsenkirchen but post-game talk was dominated by Phil Foden's invisible display on the left of Gareth Southgate's attack.

The Manchester City star picked up the Premier League Player of the Season award after a stellar campaign at the champions but questions have emerged as to whether he is being shoehorned into this England team by being pushed out on the left - and whether Anthony Gordon would be a better option in that role for future games.

The Newcastle United ace was an unused substitute in England's opening game as he watched Jarrod Bowen, Kobbie Mainoo and Conor Gallagher emerge from the bench in the second-half. There is now a debate brewing over Gordon's role in the side going forward and whether he must replace Foden in upcoming games.

“The lack of pace hurt England the longer the game progressed, so it was surprising Anthony Gordon was not introduced," Jamie Carragher said at full-time.

Foden's quality is undoubted but with Jude Bellingham excelling in a central attacking midfield role, Foden has been forced out wide on the opposite flank to Bukayo Saka. Some feel the decision is hurting England's attacking chances.

"Phillip Foden. Phillip f-ing Foden. I'm not going to swear because he doesn't deserve it. What can you do? I told you it doesn't work. It works for Man City if he plays on the right or the left or the No10 because of the rotation," City hero Micah Richards told the Rest Is Football podcast.

"You know how Pep sets up his sides. There's going to be movement, rotation, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Grealish, Doku, whatever it may be alongside Haaland up front. I just think with England there's not enough of that and he's left, at times, isolated."

Gordon's club form earned him a spot in Southgate's England plans above trusted stars such as Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish. That was a big vote of confidence by the national team boss but questions now linger over how much game time he plans to give the in-form ex-Everton star while out in Germany.

England play Denmark on Thursday and Slovenia the following Tuesday with Gordon hoping to be involved at a major tournament for the first time.