Ian Wright expressed his dissatisfaction and claimed that it was ‘ridiculous’ as to why Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips got booked for England against Poland on Wednesday night, as he told ITV Sport (08/09/21 at 11:10 pm).
The former striker didn’t like the way Phillips was treated and thinks the Leeds midfielder ‘did well’ to stay on the pitch given how the referee was going.
Daniel Siebert was the on-field referee and he made some pretty ridiculous decisions, especially in the first half and then lost control of the players at the half-time break.
Nonetheless, after only seven minutes, the official brandished a yellow card to Phillips for his alleged stamp on Poland’s Tymoteusz Puchacz.
The problem here is that Phillips was trying to turn away from his opponent by attempting a 180-degree turn with the ball and he ended up catching the Union Berlin player.
Either way, Wright wasn’t happy about it, but that wasn’t the only contentious call of the day.
“He mentioned him getting booked,” said Wright. “It was ridiculous what he got booked for.
“It was early in the game and he did well to say on, with the way the referee was going.”
It was a strong showing in Warsaw by Phillips and that is something that is becoming a bit of the norm for him in an England shirt now.
Both he and Declan Rice are now starting to lockdown those midfield spots.
Their performances were so strong over the summer that they are even keeping Jordan Henderson out of the side.
Nonetheless, it shows the great depth Gareth Southgate has to choose from, and long may it continue for those with the Three Lions on their chest.
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