Darren Bent told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (04/09/21 at 2:10 pm) that Leeds and West Ham duo, Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice, have ‘surprised people a lot of people’ with their performances for England.
Before the start of Euro 2020, many felt that Rice would be selected in the middle of the park by Gareth Southgate, it was just a case of which defensive mind, or attacking mind, sits next to him in that deeper role.
With Jordan Henderson battling fitness and sharpness, the aptly-named ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ partnered the hard-hitting Hammer for his country.
Despite it being their first major tournament, the duo achieved what the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes couldn’t for their country and that’s guiding them to a final.
Former England striker Bent has spoken about the ‘telepathic’ understanding the duo have out on that pitch.
“But to be fair to Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, I think they have surprised a lot of people, with Kalvin Phillips getting the nod. He was superb in that tournament.
“Him and Declan Rice have this telepathic understanding where they kind of protect the back four.”
On Thursday, the Three Lions played their first international encounter since that penalty heartache against Italy.
In front of a hostile crowd in Budapest, Rice drank the tears of the Hungary crowd as he bagged himself a goal during a thumping 4-0 win in their World Cup qualifier.
Phillips was voted Man of the Match by the supporters and the Thorp Arch academy product is only growing into his role.
With Phillips only 25, and Rice three years younger than him, these two have the quality to cement their place on the international side for years and years to come.
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