Gary Neville Disappointed By Foden No-Show Against USA
Gary Neville was left disappointed after Phil Foden was left as an unused substitute in England's goalless draw with the United States on Friday.
England failed to build on their impressive 6-2 thrashing of Iran in their opening group stage game as they laboured for a point against the US.
As England tried in vain to break down a resolute US defence, creative spark Foden was left on the bench as manager Gareth Southgate opted to bring on Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish for some inspiration in the final third.
Foden has been in impressive form for club side Manchester City once again this season but has played just 20 minutes in England's first two matches in Qatar.
Neville feels England should be making the most of the talents of Foden and Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold on the biggest stage.
Speaking on ITV, Neville said: "I was disappointed not to see Foden. For me, that talent is huge. I've not seen anything like that. I know we've got [Jude] Bellingham, we've got Grealish, we've got others.
"Gareth prefers [Mason] Mount, he prefers [Bukayo] Saka, he prefers [Raheem] Sterling at the moment, but for me for Foden not to be in amongst that in a starting XI, and to not come off the bench was interesting.
"I'm torn a little bit because I've got huge respect for Gareth and what he's achieved. He's achieved more than any [England] manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, but we've got a couple of talents there on the bench in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Foden. In terms of opening up a game, Trent Alexander-Arnold's got some of the best deliveries you'll ever see from a full-back.
"Those two not coming off the bench was a little bit disappointing in the sense that if you're going to try to win the game, they're world-class talents.
"Other nations – Spain, Brazil, France – probably would have Trent Alexander-Arnold and Foden in the starting XI, and I understand it a little bit having watched Trent Alexander-Arnold defend, but when you see a game like that where we lack creativity and where we can't really create any chances, you think, those two players, really should they be in there?"
England will face Wales in their final group game knowing a point will guarantee them a spot in the knockout rounds.
