MAGUIRE WELL ON WAY BACK DIAMONDS AND PIRLS
Lions unearth couple of gems in Phillips and Rice
HARRY MAGUIRE is “progressing well” and is beginning to step up his training.
England manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Maguire (right) is doing more with each session in the hope of being ready to play in the group stage.
Manchester United captain Maguire has been out for a month since damaging ankle ligaments and the central defender is targeting a return for the final Group D match against Czech Republic next Tuesday.
Southgate said:
“With Harry he’s progressing well, he’ll train again with a bit more of the group, a little bit more of the session tomorrow. That’s a positive, heading in a good direction.”
LEEDS star Kalvin Phillips says he was full of pride when he silenced his England doubters and saw ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ trend on Twitter.
Phillips, who earned the nickname for his playmaking skills at Elland Road, bossed the game and set up Raheem Sterling’s winner as the Three Lions beat Croatia 1-0 in their opening match of the European Championship.
And the 25-year-old was thrilled to make a splash on social media afterwards as he lived up to the comparison with Italy great Andrea Pirlo.
Phillips said: “Leeds fans call me that, which is very nice, and to see it trending on Twitter, which I was having a look at, is a nice feeling.
“But first and foremost, I’m happy that we won the game and happy to do my job as well. It’s a great feeling to get an assist and a great feeling for the three points.
“I’m laid back – that’s the kind of person I am regardless of what is thrown at me. I just try and take it in my stride.”
With England playing West Ham star Declan Rice as their only holding midfielder against Croatia it was felt by many that Phillips would miss out.
But he was further forward in a threeman midfield which also included Mason Mount – and looked the business when attacking.
Rice and Phillips were also the only two players to run over 10km in the match and it’s no longer a case of which one of them starts for England.
Phillips said: “There’s a lot of talk about me and Declan Rice fighting for one position.
“But when we play together, we play really well. It’s an honour to play with him. It was really warm and it took its toll on us. It’s a great result and I’m happy with my performance.
“There are two group games left now and we need to perform like that – if not better.”
Scotland is just three days away and Rice says England will fight fire with fire if their opponents try to bully them physically this Friday. The West Ham midfielder expects a no-holds-barred performance from the warriors in the Tartan Army at Wembley.
But he believes England have what it takes to stand up and be counted after beating Croatia in their Group D opener.
Rice said: “The game on Friday will probably go down in our careers as one of the most memorable games you will ever play.
“We know the history with Scotland. We know the type of game it will be.
“They’ve got some top players who play in the Premier League. John Mcginn and Scott Mctominay in the middle are two warriors.
“Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney at the back are great leaders and players. We are not going into it to say it is going to be easy because that will be wrong.
“They are going to come and be physical and we need to match that and do more. We need to be ready and we will be ready.”
Rice admits to being filled with selfdoubt in his younger days as an England player, but insists he now fully believes in himself.
And he showed with a battling but composed display in the heart of midfield against Croatia that he has what it takes to be an England hero.
“I would have backed myself a few years ago to go out and perform at a high level, but maybe had some doubts,” said Rice.
“Fortunately, after the season and performances that I have had with England recently, I had full confidence to go out there and perform at a high standard.
“There were spells where Croatia had the ball and we had to sit in a pool, me, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips. It was outstanding. It worked really well with them.
“We’re buzzing. Now we want to focus on the Scotland game and repeat the same performance.”