As England enter the knock-out stages of the Euros 2024, there will sadly be a key player missing - Phil Foden has quit the tournament due to a "personal matter".
The FA confirmed in a statement that the 24-year-old midfielder from Stockport has flown back to the UK for a "pressing family matter" and Mirror Football understands he is returning home for the birth of his third child with long term girlfriend Rebecca Cooke.
The pair already have two children, Ronnie Foden, five, and True Foden, three and recently shared snaps of their baby shower ahead of the arrival of baby number three.
The pair are expecting their third child togetherThey pulled out all the stops for the party, which featured a flurry of blue and white balloons and a huge LED sign that read 'baby Foden'. Foden and Rebecca are childhood sweethearts, having their first baby when they were both just 18 years old.
Man City midfielder Phil reportedly met Rebecca at a party when they were teenagers in Stockport, and she has since been seen supporting him at several of his matches. She has also been spotted joining the England's WAGs at tournaments including the Euros and World Cup.
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Very little is known about Rebecca, but she is thought to be around 24 years old, also from Stockport. She has remained quiet about her career. Meanwhile, Foden is a family man, and shared a sweet reaction to the arrival of his firstborn son. He told City's website: "I was there for the birth. I walked out of the room, gave it a little tear, and then went back in like nothing happened.
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"I'm not one for crying in front of people. I like to be on my own, but I was there in the room, watched it happen and it was a special moment. Your life changes. There's no free time," and added that he had "enjoyed every minute of it."
He said becoming a father helped him to remain "focused" and told Esquire, whose front cover he appeared on in 2022: "There's so much going on out there for a young footballer like myself.
"The hardest thing is being in bed early and ready to train the next day when there's all these distractions around. I think that's where the dedication comes in." Ronnie, has become a star himself, regularly joining his dad on the pitch for trophy celebrations, posing for photos alongside Erling Haaland and sat on his dad's shoulders. Foden and Rebecca have set up their own Instagram account boasting a whopping four million followers.
Foden, who plays his club football for Manchester City, had played for Gareth Southgate's team against Slovenia on Tuesday. The forward is understood to have left the camp following Tuesday's match in Cologne, where a goalless draw ensured England finished top of their group.
Southgate's team aren't back in action until Sunday, giving the midfielder to return in time for the round of 16 match in Gelsenkirchen. Their opponents for the round of 16 tie will be determined after the conclusion of Group E and Group F on Wednesday.
Premier League player of the season Foden started all three of England's group games. He played the full 90 minutes against Serbia, before being withdrawn in the latter stages of the draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
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