KAL F- ALES
Lions debut’s a sobering experience for Phillips
Here in Copenhagen and the home of one of the world’s most famous beers, England debutant Phillips was left in danger of looking punch drunk.
Phillips became the first Leeds star to represent the Three Lions since Alan Smith in 2004.
Back then Leeds were heading down to the Championship, but fast forward to 2020 and he will find himself added to the Elland Road honours board with the club in the big time once more.
His elevation to being a full England international will send the cult- like status of someone known as the ‘ Yorkshire Pirlo’ through the roof.
As it stands, Phillips has now made more international appearances than he has in the Premier League.
This will change at the weekend when the midfielder faces champions Liverpool, but even that experience might not prove to be as chastening as the one he went through in Denmark.
The debate about his inclusion was still raging on social media as he walked out to fulfil a lifelong dream in this group game.
The likeable 24- year- old has been on cloud nine since his call- up, coming on the back of him inspiring Leeds to promotion to the top flight.
The whirlwind trip to the top has given Phillips so much confidence that he has even promised to give his first England shirt to Marcelo Bielsa as a token of appreciation for all the Argentine has done for him at club level.
That’s quite a gesture and shows what a decent bloke Phillips must be.
It also proves he must be convinced he won’t just become another one- cap wonder like David Nugent, Kevin Davies, Francis Jeffers or former Leeds favourite Lee Bowyer. Time will tell but as experiments go, this one exploded in Gareth Southgate’s face.
His decision to name Phillips AND
Declan Rice in a five- man midfield smacked of caution.
Rice and Phillips sound more like a comedy duo, but there was nothing amusing about their performance because it just didn’t work.
The game passed both of them by, with Phillips in particular resembling someone starstruck in the presence of great Dane Christian Eriksen.
Aggression, hard work and application are fine qualities but this level demands so much more from those who want to stand out and dominate.
Perhaps Southgate’s head is still spinning from events surrounding disgraced duo Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood, but the man who likes to wear a waistcoat could soon be in danger of needing a straitjacket instead.
What the more creative Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Ainsley MaitlandNiles made of it all while looking on from the bench was anyone’s guess.
Southgate should be applauded for his search for a winning formula but it has been a dreadful reunion for him and his stars following 10 months in the wilderness, one he needs to put behind him and move on from fast.
On the bright side, at least no opposition anthems were booed, we didn’t hear a single chant about the IRA and the smell of tear gas was nowhere to be detected. Thank heavens for small mercies.