England manager Thomas Tuchel has declared Phil Foden's place in the World Cup squad is not guaranteed. The Manchester City midfielder, the only player to start both games in the final camp, struggled to make an impact when deployed as a false nine against Japan. Tuchel stated Foden 'struggles to show it on the pitch' despite being 'excellent' in training. This comes after Foden made little impression before striker Dominic Solanke was brought on in the 59th minute. Tuchel's comments directly challenge Foden's previous status as a certainty for the squad.

Foden's recent form for Manchester City compounds the concern. He has started just four of City's past 15 games and has not scored since 14 December, ending a run of six goals in five matches. Tuchel acknowledged Foden arrived at the camp with a 'brightest smile' but failed to translate his training brilliance into match-winning performances, stating he 'struggles to have the full impact'. This disconnect between training and results is central to Tuchel's current assessment.

With the final squad deadline set for 30 May and the World Cup opener against Croatia on 17 June, Foden's future with England hangs in the balance. Tuchel's admission marks a significant shift from previous certainty, placing the 25-year-old's World Cup ambitions under serious scrutiny as the selection process enters its final stages.