Kalvin Phillips says England can sink rivals Germany on Tuesday by taking ‘more risks’ as Three Lions train for showdown
KALVIN PHILLIPS has urged England to take ‘more risks’ ahead of their Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Germany.
The Three Lions will welcome the Germans to Wembley on Tuesday evening for a mouth-watering battle of old enemies.
England struggled for goals in the group stage, finding the back of the net just twice in three matches.
And Phillips reckons a braver approach from some of his team-mates will remedy their goalscoring woes.
He said: “[We have to] be more confident when we’re on the ball and take a few risks. Me personally, as well.
“I feel like once we do start scoring, I feel like we’ll get a few more as well.”
Phillips – who has been one of England’s standout players of the tournament – plans to adopt a more attack-minded approach to Tuesday’s clash with Joachim Low’s men.
When asked how he’d take more risks, the Leeds star said: “Maybe if I’m on the ball and I’ve got time on the ball to turn and go forward.
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“At Leeds, I’m used to playing deep and playing them long passes.
“Obviously I’m new to the team, so I don’t really want to be risking the ball too much and losing a bit of confidence.
“But at the same time, I’m in a major tournament so I’ve got to show what I can do. So hopefully I can do that in the next game.”
England gaffer Gareth Southgate has faced criticism for adopting an overly cautious approach, a notion Phillips has rubbished.
The 25-year-old said of his international manager: “He’s very easy going.
“He wants us to attack, he wants us to get goals, he wants us to express ourselves on the ball and when we haven’t got it.
“I know everyone says that Gareth was a defender and his teams are very defensive, but I feel like if you look at the last three games we’ve not conceded a goal – which is good.
“If you’re like my club team when we can score five goals and concede four, then it’s probably not as good.
“The fact we’re keeping clean sheets is a major positive as well.”
Germany scraped through Group F by the skin of their teeth, with a 2-2 draw with Hungary booking them passage to the last-16.
But Phillips insists he and his team-mates are refusing to underestimate the three-time tournament winners.
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He said: “We know that near enough every single player is a top-level player.
“They’ve got players in midfield that play for [Real] Madrid and stuff like.
“We know it’s going to be a difficult game, but we can’t always focus on how they’re going to do when they’re on the ball.
“We need to try and break them down minute by minute.
“We’ve been working on some stuff on the training ground, and hopefully it works out and it comes off.”