Micah Richards and Cesc Fabregas had a spirited debate on BBC Sport about Phil Foden’s role and performance for England, especially in comparison to Jude Bellingham. This discussion followed England’s narrow 1-0 win over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener, where Bellingham shone by scoring the decisive goal.

Richards expressed concern over Foden’s impact, noting that while Foden found good positions early on, he struggled to stay involved throughout the game. Richards highlighted the difference in how Foden plays for Manchester City, where a well-defined system supports his movements, versus his sporadic engagement for England.

Fabregas agreed with Richards on the need for Foden to step up but pointed out the difference in their approaches. Bellingham imposes himself on the game, constantly seeking the ball and taking on opponents, which Fabregas believes Foden should emulate. He emphasized that a player of Foden’s caliber should naturally assert himself more, without needing detailed instructions from the coach.

Richards countered that Bellingham’s central role gives him more freedom, while Foden, playing from wider positions, faces more challenges in consistently influencing the game. Richards mentioned the need for Foden to have better on-field partnerships, like those he has at Manchester City, to excel for England.

Fabregas concluded by reiterating that Foden needs to take more initiative if he is to fulfill his potential with the national team, suggesting that Bellingham’s assertiveness sets a benchmark for Foden to follow.