• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Fans can't believe that Kalvin Phillips is starting for England

Home> Football

Updated 18:46 23 Mar 2023 GMTPublished 18:35 23 Mar 2023 GMT

Fans can't believe that Kalvin Phillips is starting for England

Phillips has played just 56 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester City this summer, but is starting against XI.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

England fans have been left utterly bemused by Gareth Southgate's choice to pick Kalvin Phillips in his starting XI against Italy.

Last week, fans couldn't believe that Phillips had been called up to the squad, despite only playing 56 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester City.

His move from Leeds United has not gone according to plan, due to injury and form, and he's not really been part of Pep Guardiola's plans.

Advert

He did make it into the World Cup squad for Qatar, and made it onto the pitch for 40 minutes across two games, losing what was previously a guaranteed spot in the manager's starting line up to Jude Bellingham.

His return to City, after the tournament in the Middle East, was met with Guardiola calling him out for the weight he'd gained whilst with the national team.

Rival fans unsurprisingly used it to mock him and he then provided a disaster class as City were eliminated by Southampton from the Carabao Cup.

Advert

All of that suggested he wouldn't even be in the squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers with Italy and Ukraine this week, but not only that, he's now starting.

"How you starting Phillips he ain’t played f**k all this season," said one fan.

"Kalvin Phillips, my eyes are bleeding," added a second, not dramatic at all, fan.

Advert

"Is this bait?" questioned a third about the decision.

A fourth noted, "So Kalvin Phillips doesn’t start any premier league game this season, then gets a call up by Southgate & starts the first game, f**k my life!"

On the manager, another posted, "Southgate is a f***ing clown. PHILLIPS????"

Not being over exaggerating in the slightest, another queried, "Why Kalvin Phillips? He hasn't even played for like years."

Advert

"Hoping Phillips continues his fine club form," joked a seventh.

Coming up with a reason for the midfielder being in the team, one fan quipped, "Phillips?! Must have Southgate's sex tape. You can't tell me otherwise."

And coming up with an alternative, another fan tweeted, "I've played more minutes than Phillips this season. Yet an in form James Ward-Prowse sits at home after playing every single minute of every game and scoring goals."

Phillips has been on the bench a lot for City. Image: Alamy
Phillips has been on the bench a lot for City. Image: Alamy

Advert

Aside from Phillips inclusion, there isn't too many surprises in Southgate's first starting line up since being eliminated from the World Cup by France in the quarter finals.

There was some criticism of Harry Maguire starting, due to his lack of games at Manchester United, but there is little other choice in the squad.

Jack Grealish gets the starting position that most likely would have been Marcus Rashford's, but the United forward pulled out of the fixtures with an injury.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Twitter

Topics: Football, Euro 2024, England, Gareth Southgate, Kalvin Phillips, Manchester City

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

X

@Sidler28

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • Sky SportsSky Sports
    5 hours ago

    Roy Keane Claims Man Utd Player Has Been 'Getting Away With Murder' For Years

    Keane was critical of one United player in particular after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

    Football
  • Sky SportsSky Sports
    6 hours ago

    Gary Neville Notices Ruben Amorim Red Flag That Erik Ten Hag Used To Do

    United lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

    Football
  • Sky SportsSky Sports
    7 hours ago

    Bruno Fernandes Gives Brutally Honest Interview as Amorim Tactics Questioned

    United's captain was on media duties after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

    Football
  • LFC YouTubeLFC YouTube
    7 hours ago

    Arne Slot Confirms When Alexander Isak Will Make Liverpool Debut After Missing Burnley Win

    The striker was absent from the Liverpool squad at Turf Moor.

    Football
  • Kalvin Phillips recall clause details revealed as Man City suffer huge Rodri injury blow
  • Kalvin Phillips settles the Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer debate before saying 'he's going to hate me for this'
  • England star becomes first player to respond to Gareth Southgate's Kalvin Phillips claim
  • Jamie Carragher defends Gareth Southgate over Kalvin Phillips comments and has theory on what England boss really meant