How Phil Foden reacted to FIFA World Cup snub by England | OneFootball

Nico O’Reilly has revealed the feeling from both Phil Foden and Cole Palmer after the decision to leave them out of the England squad at the FIFA World Cup this summer.

While the Three Lions navigate preparation in North America, the surprise of Tuchel’s squad selection – which sacrificed household names to build a very specific profile – continue to dominate headlines back home.

For 21-year-old breakout star Nico O’Reilly, the tournament represents a dream milestone following an extraordinary, trophy-laden breakthrough season under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City during the Catalan’s final campaign at the club.

The versatile academy graduate, who won the club’s Player of the Season and netted a brace to secure the Carabao Cup over Arsenal in March, was converted into a dynamic, attack-minded left-back over the last 18 months.

Having accumulated over 4,000 minutes of first-team club football this past term, O’Reilly played his way into the final World Cup roster alongside fellow sky blues John Stones, James Trafford, and Marc Guéhi, while older peers were left behind.

How Foden reacted to his England snub

Speaking whilst away with the rest of the England squad at the FIFA World Cup, Nico O’Reilly reflected on the absences of both Phil Foden and Cole Palmer – two fellow Mancunians whom he knows all too well from their time together at Manchester City.

“I spoke to Phil and he’s gutted,” O’Reilly revealed. “I’ve played with both [Phil Foden and Cole Palmer] and they are amazing players.”

The versatile left-back continued, “It is unfortunate for them not to make the squad and they will be gutted but now is the time to rest and be ready for the next season.”

How the World Cup absence could benefit Foden

Instead of enduring a gruelling tournament across three different host nations, both elite playmakers are now granted a rare, extended block of physical decompression before report-back dates arrive at Manchester City and Chelsea.

For Foden in particular, the reset will be deeply welcomed by Manchester City’s incoming management team spearheaded by Enzo Maresca as they prepare for a structural transition beyond Guardiola’s decade-long tenure.

With pre-season expected to commence at the City Football Academy in July, a fully rested Phil Foden could serve as a vital cornerstone as the Englishman looks to recapture the sort of form that carried his boyhood side to a fourth consecutive Premier League crown in 2024.