Phil Foden called his first World Cup goal as one of the highlights of his career, and it was impossible to wipe the smile off his face after setting up one goal and scoring another for England vs Wales.
Foden had been the man in demand from England fans after he was unused in the 0-0 draw with the USA, and Gareth Southgate had been forced to defend not bringing him on in that game. Whether he reacted to that external pressure, or had always planned to bring Foden in against Wales, the Manchester City man was an inspired selection on Tuesday.
After a half-time switch from the right wing to the left, Foden's driving run tempted a foul, and Marcus Rashford converted the free kick emphatically. Less than two minutes later, Foden was on the end of a Harry Kane cross, and his selection was justified in the space of around 100 seconds.
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After the game, during his media interviews, Foden was naturally asked where he sees his favourite position. In the build-up, Southgate had said he didn't consider using Foden as a central attacking midfielder because he doesn't play that role for City.
So it was potentially a brave choice for Foden to state that he sees that 'number ten' role as his favoured position, telling TalkSport: "I don’t know. Probably somewhere in the No.10 role. But I don’t mind, to be honest.
“Wherever I play, I try to influence the game. I can play in many different positions. Wherever the manager puts me, I always try and do my best for the team. That’s all I try and do."
This isn't new information, as Foden has spoken previously about a desire to play through the middle. Pep Guardiola has started to trust him more in that position in recent weeks, whether from the start in Champions League or Carabao Cup fixtures, or during Premier League games to switch up the tactics.
Guardiola had previously said that Foden wasn't ready to play centrally, given the tactical and positional responsibilities needed to play there. And with his attacking instincts so impressive, why bring him in off the wing when he's scoring goals and winning games?
Southgate echoed that statement this week, saying it's not as simple as moving Foden inside, because playing in the midfield for England or City requires more defensive awareness.
The relationship between Southgate and Foden has always resembled that of a headteacher and a talented-but-difficult student - from the delay in calling him up for England because he wasn't a City regular, to the disciplinary action taken after Foden's rule-breaking in Iceland, and more recent snubs in favour of safer options for England. It feels like Southgate has adopted a tough-love approach with Foden.
Even after the Wales game, when Foden was one of the star men, praise from Southgate was harder to earn than it was for, say, Marcus Rashford. And when Foden's comments about playing number ten were put to the England boss, the response was telling.
"But he never plays there, does he?" asked a baffled Southgate. "So it’s a bit hard to work that out! I can see why. We need a bit of evidence of it being used at times!”
It seems that Foden's desire to be a central attacking threat behind the striker for England will have to wait. He may have to cling on to those experiments at City and take his chance under Guardiola to prove to Southgate that number ten is a position he should be playing.
And for all Southgate's insistence that Foden must be playing there for City to be considered for England, there are numerous examples of him using players in different roles for the Three Lions to suit his own tactics - Kyle Walker at centre-back, Keiran Trippier at left-back, and Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield are three examples, with Jack Grealish also used more centrally for England than he plays at City.
But Foden's dilemma for England is the same as it is back at the Etihad. If he continues to play well and impact games from the wing, the manager will keep playing him there. A World Cup especially is not the time to be tinkering with tactical experiments.
It seems clear that Southgate has no intention of using Foden in his preferred position in the near future. Guardiola, too, has only asked Foden to play in midfield in more experimental sides. When the big games arrive, Foden is performing to a high standard out wide.
So maybe Southgate is right (as well as being a little bit wrong in his reasoning) that Foden isn't a midfield option. Not yet, anyway.
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