Frank Lampard raves about Leeds United ace Kalvin Phillips in England v Croatia
Frank Lampard paid tribute to Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips as he shone in England’s 1-0 win Croatia on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate’s decision to start Phillips, 25, in his midfield yet to the usual Twitter critics moaning about the Leeds star’s inclusion but he soon proved them wrong with a superb showing in England’s Euro 2020 opener at Wembley.
Alan Shearer called him “excellent” and Jermaine Jenas dubbed the midfielder “brilliant”.
But it was Lampard who went into the most depth about Phillips during England’s narrow victory in London.
During the half-time coverage on BBC One on Sunday, Gary Lineker asked Lampard who impressed him most and the ex-Derby and Chelsea manager said: “Phillips in the midfield.
“He’s had the energy, the few clips we saw there.
“I think it was a brave selection from Gareth in midfield. He slightly tweaked it and played [Declan] Rice slightly deep with Phillips on the right and Mason [Mount] on the left.
“That then gives Phillips and Mason the chance to jump [forward] and you have the security of Rice sitting behind you.
“They did that very well for the first 20 minutes or so.”
Man of the match
There’s no doubting it – Leeds United midfielder Phillips was England’s man of the match in a major international tournament opener.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Phillips was the star of the show on Sunday.
Not only was he superb both in and out of possession but he also added something extra to the England attack.
We Leeds fans didn’t expect that, in all honesty. He never really gets too high up the pitch for Marcelo Bielsa.
But Southgate seems to have tapped into the player that Phillips was before Bielsa transformed the 25-year-old into a deep-lying midfielder.
Phillips’ ball for Raheem Sterling’s goal in the second half was a stunner.
He dodged one challenge and had the composure to play in the Manchester City forward.
Phillips has shone in the Championship, shone in the Premier League and now he’s shining in the European Championships.
Is there anything this man cannot do?
In other Leeds United news, Jose Mourinho has made a claim about Phillips.