Kalvin Phillips ends nineteen-year Leeds United wait as midfielder starts England's Euros opener versus Croatia

KALVIN Phillips has become Leeds United's first England starter at a major international tournament for 19 years.
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Whites midfielder Phillips lines up in midfield as the Three Lions face Croatia in Sunday afternoon's Euro 2020 Group D opener at Wembley (kick-off 2pm).

In doing so, Phillips becomes the first Whites player to start a Three Lions game at a major international tournament since Danny Mills and Rio Ferdinand lined up for Sven Goran-Erikkson's side in the quarter-finals defeat to Brazil of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

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The Whites midfielder had already become the club's first England international since 2004.

Phillips lines up alongside West Ham's Declan Rice in the middle of the park as part of a 4-2-3-1 system as Chelsea's Mason Mount starts in a central attacking midfield role.

Manchester City duo Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling start either side of Tottenham's Harry Kane upfront whilst Atletico Madrid right back Kieran Trippier starts at left back.

Trippier and Manchester City's Kyle Walker flank centre backs Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) and John Stones (City) whilst Everton's Jordan Pickford is in goal.

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England XI v Croatia: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier; Rice, Phillips; Mount; Sterling, Foden, Kane.

HISTORY: Made by Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.HISTORY: Made by Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
HISTORY: Made by Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

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