With England needing a win to win the group, Gareth Southgate has made 11 changes from the Australia game. The big inclusion is Man City man, Kalvin Phillips.
England looked shaky in the friendly against Australia on Friday after Southgate gave lots of players a chance to impress. Tonight, Southgate has decided to start Phillips despite his lack of game time for his club.
The start for Phillips will be his first competitive start for his club since March. Although he hasn’t started, he has always been a key part of the England squad.
Phillips hasn’t started a Premier League match for Man City since May. He has made just two league starts for the club since signing in the summer of 2022.
Southgate has decided to pick Phillips because of his defensive ability with the England manager wary of the Italian threat going forward.
How have fans reacted to the news Phillips is starting?
Starting Kalvin Phillips and Harry Maguire for a must win Euro qualifiers game is a sackable offence.
Get rid of Southgate immediately. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/1ozXE9r5es
— ً (@cfcbarny) October 17, 2023
Kalvin Phillips & Harry Maguire starting for England. For ENGLAND. You see some of the players this country has and yet Gareth Southgate thinks those guys are starting caliber. This is lunacy at it’s finest.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) October 17, 2023
Mad that England have arguably the best ‘young’ midfield on the planet at their disposal —
Foden Bellingham
RiceYet Southgate will deploy Kalvin Phillips/Jordan Henderson ahead of one of them, lol.
But yeah, he’s the man for the job! Let’s back him! pic.twitter.com/zyQYekszM2
— H.✍️ (@7harry__) October 17, 2023
According to Southgate the squad is picked on merit yet Kalvin Phillips and Harry Maguire start, two players who haven’t started for their clubs in games make it make sense https://t.co/hm2X7hA2XF
— Sam (@S25_AFC) October 17, 2023
Southgate’s time has to be up. Picking Kalvin Phillips yet again! Has he even got a combined 90 mins this season from city’s games?
Sure he will be bemused when the boos come out if result doesn’t go our way. #eng #Euro2024Qualifiers #fa
— Brad Fowles (@FowlesBrad) October 17, 2023
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