Jude Bellingham will become 'world's best midfielder' – England team-mate Phil Foden
England attacker Phil Foden has hailed team-mate Jude Bellingham following the 19-year-old's impressive display against Senegal
England attacker Phil Foden has hailed team-mate Jude Bellingham following his impressive display in the World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal on Sunday, saying the 19-year-old will become 'the best midfielder in the world'.
Bellingham assisted the opening goal for Jordan Henderson in England's 3-0 win over Senegal and played a key role in the second as he set up Foden, who then found Harry Kane.
"I don't want to big him up too much as he's still a young, but he's one of the most gifted players I've ever seen," Foden told ITV after the game.
"I don't see a weakness in his game. I think he's got everything and he will become the best midfielder in the world, for sure."
England will now face France in the quarter-finals next Saturday.
"We're all buzzing with the result," Foden said. "We will celebrate tonight but it's knockout football so we will have to recover tomorrow and think about the next opponent, which will be really tough."
And on the threat posed by defending champions France, he added: "They look like the strongest in the competition up until now, but we back ourselves on the day."
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Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.