Manchester City star Phil Foden has tipped to return to England’s starting line-up against Germany in the European Championship 2020 final 16 match on Tuesday, while Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount also has a chance to be with despite training alone for a week due to COVID- 19 protocol.
Foden started England’s first two matches in the tournament against Croatia and Scotland, but with Gareth Southgate’s team already made it to the knockout stages when they met the Czech Republic, the 21-year-old dropped out of the match day team entirely as a precaution against suspension.
Mason Mount has trained alone due to COVID-19 isolation / Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka got the nod instead and impressed, but Sky Sports reports that Foden is “increasingly likely” to regain its starting place before challenges from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, with Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling set to retain their places.
However, Mount missed the narrow victory over the Czechs after he and Ben Chilwell were forced to isolate as a result of a long period of close contact with Chelsea clubmate Billy Gilmour, who continued to test positive for coronavirus after the Scottish match.
Mount had also started England’s first two matches and was still able to return immediately to XI to face Germany, despite his isolation lasting until the day before the match at Wembley.
It is said that Southgate can leave that decision until the last minute. But while Mount will miss England’s last tactical meeting on Monday, just over 24 hours before the start, he will continue to be included remotely via video link to ensure he is up on the pitch.
There have been suggestions before the game that England could try to match Germany tactically by reintroducing a third center in the team and converting slopes into wing-backs, which we saw on the way to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
But if Southgate still wants to start with three strikers, he will be limited to only two central midfielders. This means that either Mount does not get his place back yet or one of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips is left out. However, the latter scenario could leave England vulnerable midfield.
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