Gareth Southgate’s England side were victorious in their first fixture of Euro 2020 on Sunday after achieving a 1-0 win over Croatia.
While Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling got the winning goal to help his nation move top of Group D ahead of Scotland playing the Czech Republic on Monday, several England supporters opted to crown Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips their Man of The Match.
One England fan even cheekily claimed that Phillips was the best footballer on the planet after his impressive display, while another held their hands up to praise the player’s performance after previously moaning about Southgate opting to feature Phillips in his latest starting line-up.
Phillips even had one fan amusingly comparing him to The Incredible Hulk due to the way he dominated Croatia’s midfield alongside West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
The 25-year-old midfielder played the full 90 minutes of Sunday’s clash and it was his defence-splitting pass that put Sterling through on goal in the 57th minute, which in turn saw him rack up an assist in the process.
Phillips was making jusr his ninth appearance for his nation on Sunday, having only made his England debut against Denmark during the Nations League in September 2020.
The midfield-enforcer played 29 times for Leeds in the recently concluded Premier League season, racking up one goal as well as one assist in the process.
Phillips has been at Elland Road for the entirety of his professional football career, having risen through the club’s youth ranks before breaking into the senior side, and he has so far made a total of 211 appearances for The Whites.
The England international is likely to rack up many more appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, given that his current contract isn’t due to expire until June 2024, having signed a contract extension in September 2019.
A selection of England fans were totally buzzing over Kalvin Phillips’ latest display on Twitter following Southgate’s side beating Croatia 1-0 at Wembley:
Kalvin Phillips MOTM! Hes been outstanding! #ENGCRO
— Rick ? Sweet (@thepoacher89) June 13, 2021
Kalvin Phillips MOTM
— Mary (@MarryLFC) June 13, 2021
Sir Kalvin Phillips #ENG
— Matt Shaw (@MattShaw13) June 13, 2021
Kalvin Phillips to the whole #CRO midfielders. #ENG pic.twitter.com/QJ0ftbl8l9
— Askar (@Ahmed_A_Askar) June 13, 2021
Not getting ahead of myself here but I think Kalvin Phillips might be the best footballer on the planet. #Eng
— Brad Nash (@bradgalriri) June 13, 2021
Kalvin Phillips has been unreal today #ENG
— Dan (@danmartin183) June 13, 2021
Take back everything I’ve said about Phillips, been a class act today #Eng https://t.co/Rk1GJF7hLW
— Will Jones (@Wil1J) June 13, 2021
Kalvin Phillips is an absolute baller.
Pass it on. #ThreeLions #ENG
— Chris Martin (@ChrisMartin_93) June 13, 2021
Phillips cannot be dropped at this rate. Baller. ? #ENG
— James Parry (@JimGrimmy) June 13, 2021
Kalvin Phillips you Beauty #ENG
— Mel ? (@Mel_anieP831) June 13, 2021
Phillips putting Leeds on the map! What a player! #eng #lufc
— Oliver Lines (@OliverLines) June 13, 2021