The 25-year-old England international, who plays at Leeds since 2010 and who counts 15 selections to his credit, came to light during this Euro with the Three Lions. Despite his name and his status little known internationally, and the surprise among some observers about his tenure for the first match of the Euro of theEngland against the Croatia, Gareth Southgate and Calvin Phillips proved the most skeptical wrong.
Calvin Phillips has been one of Southgate’s most used players during this Euro and therefore one of the players whose English coach has trusted the most. For exemple, the Leeds midfielder has played in every England game during the tournament, in which he was tenured each time. What’s more, he even played the entirety of almost every fixture except the eighth against theUkraine when it was released at the 65th to benefit Jude Bellingham. Thus, it is at the end of this Euro the second player to have covered the most distance (83 km) just after Jorginho (86,6 km).
Phillips, in addition to his ability to defend, break defensive lines and find spaces creating instant danger for opponents, stood out for his fair-play and his humanism.
Indeed, he was the first player to console Bukayo Saka after missing his penalty which offered the victory and the title to theItaly. In addition, he was theonly English player to embrace his finalist medal. Finally, alongside Jordan Henderson, they were the only men watching Italy lift the trophy. As a result, all these noble and exemplary characteristics could make him a future captain, in national team as in club.
–
