For Jamie Carragher, it is not so much Jude Bellingham, new star of Real Madrid, who resembles Zinédine Zidane, but Phil Foden, who has the genius of the 98 Ballon d’Or. The analysis of the former Liverpool defender surprised everyone across the Channel.
A few weeks before the Euro, the England team is making a strong impression on paper. Gareth Southgate has revealed a list of 33 players that is quite impressive offensively, including Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins. There is therefore no more room for Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, two essential players of the Three Lions for years.
Jamie Carragher certainly likes it ” phenomenon “ Bellingham, but, in the game of comparisons, the former Liverpool defender turned TV consultant is especially under the spell of Foden, whom he considers to be the Zinédine Zidane of the English selection. He argues his point in a forum given to The Telegraph, three weeks before England’s group matches against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia (in Group C of the Euro). And his analysis surprises everyone.
From Zinedine Zidane and Andrés Iniesta to Phil Foden
“The biggest praise I can give is that every time I look at Foden and I see that first touch, that control and that movement in small spaces, the first players that come to mind are Zinedine Zidane and Andrés Iniesta. I’m not sure England have ever had a style of player like this at this level. Foden is closer to typical Spanish or Portuguese players, his technique sets him apart »says Carragher.
The comparison is not validated by many people on the other side of the Channel. If Phil Foden is a real crack and had an exceptional season with Manchester City (27 goals in 52 matches), taking advantage of the departure in particular of Ilkay Gündogan, he is nothing like a Zidane or an Iniesta, genius midfielders and true playmakers. Foden is clutch, he finishes the actions. Where Bellingham, precisely, has the size and gestures of a certain “Zizou”…
