Phil Foden has announced that the entire England team has agreed to copy his bleached hair if they win the European Championship.
The Manchester City playmaker evoked memories of Paul Gascoigne at Euro 1996 by unveiling the new kit on the eve of the tournament.
The entire Romanian team bleached their hair for the 1998 World Cup – two years before Foden was born – and the young man said his teammates had promised to do the same if they made it all the way this summer.
“I told the team that if we won they would have to get the same hairstyle as me and everyone agreed,” Foden told talkSPORT.
“If we win, hopefully you’ll see everyone with the same hairstyle. I think Romania did it, so I would make sure everyone got the same hairstyle. That would be fun.”
Regard: Kieran Trippier supports Harry Kane at the start of the 2020 European Championship
When asked if the hairstyle was a tribute to Gazza, Foden revealed that the real source of inspiration was his outgoing Man City teammate Sergio Aguero.
“To be honest, it was my own thing and then I saw people making something different out of it and I just jumped on it like anyone else would have,” he said of the comparisons to Gazza.
“I spoke to Razza (Raheem Sterling) about how Sergio has the same type of hair and that I like it. So, being me, I decided to change it and I called the hairdresser to do it and I’ve liked it ever since. I even made it lighter, I had another haircut the other day to make it lighter.”
Foden also revealed that England players have been using social media less during the tournament in an attempt to block out the outside noise, which has only increased since Friday’s frustrating goalless draw with Scotland.
“I think it’s good,” he said of the decision. “When you come to such a big tournament, the coverage is very extensive and you don’t always read only positive comments. I think it’s good that everyone took a step back and tried to get more distance.”
Foden was replaced by Jack Grealish in the second half as England struggled to get going against the Scots, while captain Harry Kane was also substituted for the second consecutive game after again failing to get a shot on target.
The 20-year-old defended Kane and said that England did not create enough for their talisman that evening.
“I just think we didn’t find the right solutions to attack,” Foden said. “For whatever reason, we didn’t create enough chances. I heard a few comments blaming Harry, but we didn’t create enough chances for him to even have a chance. That’s something we need to work on and hopefully we can just keep getting better.”
“I see him training every day with 100 percent concentration and the desire to get better.
“He’s always the first one in the gym, always a great role model for all the other players, and that will come, certainly sooner rather than later. He just has to stay the way he is.”
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