Phil Foden expressed his ‘unbelievable feeling’ at scoring his first goals for England in their 4-0 thrashing of Iceland at Wembley.
The final UEFA Nations League game had nothing riding on it with England’s hopes of advancing from Group A4 dashed in their defeat to Belgium on Sunday.
However, it was a game where Gareth Southgate’s emerging young stars staked their claim for a regular berth in the starting 11, especially Phil Foden.
The Manchester City midfielder, still only 20, set Wembley alight with a sparkling performance, showcasing his remarkable growth and maturity on the international stage. He said post-match:
“It’s up there with one of the best games and it means a lot to me.
“I just couldn’t stop smiling after my goal, it’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m just going to try and enjoy it as much as I can.
Foden capped off a wonderful night for England – a night which also saw Declan Rice score his maiden England goal – with two incredible strikes, the first sweeping in Jadon Sancho’s pass inside the penalty area 10 mins from time, then four minutes later, picking up the ball 25-yards out and swinging an emphatic low shot into the bottom corner with his left foot.
Foden learned a harsh lesson when he was sent home from the England camp, after the corresponding fixture in September and dropped from the next round of England games after breaking Covid-19 protocols.
He also stated on the incident:
“It was one of the hardest moments of my life. That’s the time you need the trust of your manager and Gareth had a lot of respect for me and it means everything to me. I just wanted to repay him with goals and do well.
The youngster was punished for his mistake but his swift return to the England fold proved a true indication of just what he can bring to his country, both now and in the future.
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