Stuart Pearce calls for shock England replacement just 29 MINUTES into Euro 2024 against Serbia

Stuart Pearce called for Phil Foden to be withdrawn just 29 minutes into England’s opening Euro 2024 match against Serbia.

The former England star felt it was not Foden’s game and wanted to see him replaced by Eberechi Eze.

England were 1-0 up at that point after Jude Bellingham pounced on Bukayo Saka’s cross to give Gareth Southgate’s men the lead.

Pearce told talkSPORT: “I’m going to say it and I’m going to make that statement as soon as possible.

“We talked about the first substitutions before the game, I tell you what I would do, I would bring Eze in now to attack in place of Foden.

‘You ask me for my opinion and I’ll give you my solution after 29 minutes!’

He added: “What I see at the moment is an England team that only attacks down the right side.

“There is no attack on the left side – Trippier is obviously a right-footed left-back and offers nothing in the advanced areas.

“Foden steps in and almost looks like a utility player.

“I would like to see us carry out a joint attack from both sides and the way Serbia has organized itself is as if they lay down and say ‘please don’t hurt us too much’.

“We only have Saka who has the ability to attack someone as a full winger – I would like to see another one in that side.”

There was a time when Pearce called the shots from the England dugout – for one match.

Pearce was caretaker manager in 2012 and took charge of a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands at Wembley.

That day, he replaced Steven Gerrard with Daniel Sturridge after just 33 minutes – although the Liverpool star was injured.

He acted as interim between Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.

As a player, he racked up 78 England caps, occupying the first-choice left-back spot and playing between 1987 and 1999.