Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has revealed on the Lions’ Den, on England’s official Youtube channel, that he told Ben White he fancied himself to score before his side’s game against Croatia on Sunday.
Phillips didn’t actually manage to find the back of the net, with Raheem Sterling grabbing the headlines.
However, the Leeds man did play a big part in the goal, as he laid the chance on with a brilliant through pass.
And Phillips has now stated that he had a premonition that he was going to influence the game in an attacking sense.
“I had a mad feeling before the game that I’d maybe score, I was telling Ben White that,” Phillips said.
“I had a feeling I was going to score. I came close to scoring, but if I weren’t going to score, I’ll set one up!”
Attacking role
Phillips had the licence to have such an influence on the game in an attacking sense as he was offered more creative freedom to get forward.
Rather than being deployed in front of the defence, as he often is with Leeds, the 25-year-old was given a role in the right-hand side of England’s three-man midfield.
His attacking runs, therefore, became pivotal – and he actually did come close to scoring a couple of times.
A volley from the edge of the box was particularly close, as he almost got on the scoresheet for England for the very first time.
Phillips will surely have more opportunities to score if he continues to be given such a licence to go forward for the rest of the tournament, with England’s next game coming against Scotland on Friday.
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