Raheem Sterling has heaped praise on Leeds United and West Ham United stars Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice, after England beat Germany at Euro 2020. Sterling got his third goal in four games, before Harry Kane broke his duck. Manchester City ace Sterling labelled Rice and Phillips as “animals”.
Sterling and Kane got the goals as England progressed into the quarter-finals following a 2-0 win over the Germans. Phillips started and finished the match again, as the Leeds man continues to play every single minute of Euro 2020 for England. He was excellent, dominating Toni Kroos.
He produced 11 ball recoveries, the most an England player has done since Tony Adams did against Germany in Euro 96. A sensational stat. Phillips did all that, on a yellow card – as did West Ham ace Rice. Sterling was full of praise for the tenacious England duo, as England progress.
Euro 2020: What has Sterling said about England teammate Phillips?
“We knew the intensity we can play at and not a lot of teams can deal with it. The two players in midfield. Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, ate up the grass and were animals in there,” Manchester City man Sterling told media after the match. As quoted by BBC Live’s coverage of the last 16 clash.
In the furore of England beating Germany and erasing the nightmare memories of Euro 96, Ukraine beat Sweden after 120 minutes. Well, 121 minutes. An injury-time, extra-time goal saw Ukraine beat 10-man Sweden to take on England in Rome on Saturday evening. Phillips is likely to start.
