England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that Phil Foden's position in the World Cup squad is not assured.
The 25-year-old midfielder from Manchester City was the sole player to start both matches during England's final training camp before Tuchel finalizes his 24-man squad.
However, he was unable to effectively compensate for the absence of striker Harry Kane while playing in a false nine role during the loss to Japan on Tuesday.
When questioned post-match about the uncertainty surrounding Foden's selection for the World Cup, Tuchel remarked: "Well, it's not a guarantee that he will come."
Tuchel acknowledged Foden's remarkable performance in training but noted his difficulties in translating that onto the pitch.
"Obviously he hasn't been on the field much with City recently, yet he arrived at camp with the brightest smile and was outstanding in training," the England manager elaborated. "I anticipated that he would surprise us and display the same enthusiasm and energy in matches, but unfortunately, he struggles to make a significant impact."
Tuchel is required to submit his final squad to FIFA by May 30, ahead of their World Cup campaign, which kicks off against Croatia on June 17 in Arlington, Texas.
In the match against Japan, Foden's contribution as a false nine was minimal before Tuchel opted to replace him with striker Dominic Solanke in the 59th minute. Foden has only started in four of Manchester City's last 15 matches and has not found the back of the net since December 14, concluding a streak of six goals in five games.
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