Twenty years on and 20 yards further up the pitch, England are still struggling to accommodate two of their star protagonists. For Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, see Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
The solution then was not to find a solution. Do nothing and win nothing. History, you suspect, is in danger of repeating itself. Indeed, for Sven-Goran Eriksson, see Gareth Southgate.
Bellingham has leading-man syndrome and, at least against Slovakia, he walked the walk, albeit just as the curtain was about to fall. There had been a lot of walking and strutting before that.
Foden is less overt, less sure, if only in an England shirt. If Southgate will not put him centre stage – or right of centre, in a literal positional sense – Foden might as well exit stage left.
He seemed withdrawn on Sunday, from the action and within himself. While Bellingham prowls like a panther, majestic and fearless, Foden can look like a kitten for his country. His eyes betray an anxiety. His disallowed goal in Gelsenkirchen – inching carelessly offside – also betrayed an eagerness to do well.
Gareth Southgate has struggled to accommodate both Phil Foden (left) and Jude Bellingham (right) in his attack
A succession of England managers failed to get the best out of Frank Lampard (left) and Steven Gerrard (right) in the Three Lions midfield
That was his England career in a flash – one of the sharpest minds in the Premier League blunted by a nervy want to impress. The relief in his celebration, soon to be cut short, told you that much. He had, it should be noted, converted from the central area ordinarily populated by Bellingham.
For all their similarities, they are very different characters. But opposites, in this case, do not attract. Against Slovakia, Foden passed to Bellingham once and Bellingham passed to Foden once. Between them, they passed 18 times to left back Kieran Trippier. England’s direction of travel, then, was not forward. How can that be with such a forward-thinking pair, players of the season in their respective leagues? With Bellingham and Foden on the pitch for 93 minutes, England did not even manage a shot on target.
Touch maps and heat maps, meanwhile, would have you believe you were looking at the same player, as cool as their connection has been. And that is what should be instructive for Southgate. If the two of them were standing on each other’s toes but putting the opposition on the back foot, you would allow for the distortion of shape. But there is no double act. Rather, they are each trying to deliver their own lines.
There was an incident in the second half of the goalless draw with Slovenia last week when Bellingham won a corner having attempted a cross towards the goalmouth from the by-line. Foden, unmarked on the edge of the area, waved his arms in frustration and had to be calmed by Manchester City team-mate Kyle Walker.
In four matches, Phil Foden has recorded just two shots on target. He has an xG of 0.29
Foden’s output for England is a long way off what he produces on a weekly basis for his club Man City
In four matches, Foden has recorded just two shots on target. He has an XG of 0.29, and that equates to a goal every 14 games. For City, he scored one in two last season.
Bellingham’s numbers here in Germany do not make great reading either. He’s had two efforts on goal all tournament and scored with both of them. His total XG of 0.59 is a goal every seven matches. There have been zero assists.
Individual shortcomings they may be – at least based on club form – but there are clearly compatibility issues. For all the song of Foden and his spark, he does not have one with Bellingham. Much like Lampard and Gerrard, they take care of themselves before they do each other.
So, what is the solution, even if Southgate is likely to keep faith with his failing system and faltering personnel? If one of Foden or Bellingham needs to come out for the good of the team, the latter’s overhead-kick has ensured it will not be him. But there is a wider body of evidence.
Foden was picked at No.10 for the pre-Euros 1-0 defeat by Iceland. To revisit Mail Sport’s comments from Wembley: ‘Sloppy first half, with passes and crosses wayward. Also lost man before Iceland goal. Tried to make things happen but not his night.’
Gareth Southgate has kept faith with the Man City star despite his sub par performances so far
Foden’s best position is No 10 but he has been shifted out wide, with Bellingham occupying that space for the Three Lions
Bellingham’s match-saving antics against Slovakia has almost certainly ensured he will retain his place in the starting XI against Switzerland
With Foden, you are starting to suspect it might just be an England thing as opposed to a positional thing. After all, you’re on the pitch for your country at a major finals – those on the bench would argue that is an enviable position to be. There is sympathy, but it felt like that reached expiry against Slovakia.
As he walked behind the goal and towards the dugout after being substituted, Foden had the best view in the house of Bellingham’s magical intervention. Much like his earlier disallowed goal in the same net, that split-second spoke to a far greater passage of time. Foden was off and, finally, Bellingham was on fire.