Phil Foden says England ‘definitely need’ Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in their preparation for their semi-finals against the Netherlands.
The former Premier League star stepped up to become an England coach in March 2023, coming in to work alongside former Middlesbrough teammate Gareth Southgate.
Hasselbaink last worked as a manager in 2022 when he left then-League One side Burton Albion.
Now, he’s helping the Three Lions to see off his country, who he represented 23 times and scored nine goals for during his career.
When England correspondent Faye Carruthers jokingly asked Foden whether they’d stopped talking to Hasselbaink before the game, the Manchester City star smiled and said: “No, I think we need him!
“I think we need him for the work that he’s been doing. Yeah, we definitely need him!”
Hasselbaink, who played for Leeds, Chelsea, Charlton, Middlesbrough and Cardiff in the latter half of his career, starred for the Netherlands from 1998 to 2002.
Now serving as one of Southgate’s assistants, the former striker will have been involved in getting the Three Lions to practice penalties after training and do work behind the scenes to make sure they’re prepared.
And if Saturday’s perfect shootout is anything to go off, his behind the scenes homework is paying off.
The Three Lions beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands saw off Turkey 2-1 in extra time after going 1-0 down.
Now, the countries will be battling for a spot in the final against the victors of the other semi-final, France vs Spain, with both games live on talkSPORT.
The Dutch boast the competition’s only remaining top goalscorer, Liverpool star, Cody Gakpo, who has netted three times so far.
Liverpool’s other big star, Virgin van Dijk, will be tough for Harry Kane and co to get past, too.
Ronald Koeman’s side also boast Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven, who made a stunning goal line clearance to deny Turkey at the weekend.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who has kept two clean sheets this summer, showed his capabilities when he denied Semih Kilicsoy from point blank range on Saturday.
And Foden recognises that the 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists won’t be easy to go up against.
“Obviously we’re facing such a great team in the Netherlands,” he continued. “I feel like at this stage it’s not going to be easy.
“Hopefully in the next couple of days in training we can come up with a plan and give it our best, that’s all we can do.”
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News Summary:
- Phil Foden says England need Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink ahead of Netherlands game – despite split loyalty
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.