Kalvin Phillips had "an amazing tournament" according to England boss Gareth Southgate after concerns the Leeds United midfielder wouldn't be fit for Euro 2020.
The Leeds United midfielder started all of the Three Lions' matches, finishing all but one due to concerns over a suspension.
It was a breakthrough year on the international stage for the 25-year-old, who is set to play a pivotal role for his country in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Despite falling short at Wembley against Italy, Southgate was reflective on a fantastic six weeks from Phillips and his England team-mates.
"Kalvin Phillips, amazing tournament, we weren't sure we were going to have him in the week leading into the first camp," Southgate said in his post-match press conference.
"Remarkable year really in terms of trying to build something consistent. We never had the players all together until seven days before the tournament itself.
"You'd have liked to have built across the whole season but that wasn't the reality of the season we had. That should be the aim moving forward.
"In some areas of the team we have clear strength and players who were in form, in other areas we don't have quite the same amount of strength and we've had to do it differently and do it our way.
"By adapting and adjusting we've managed to get to a final. Of course, you're always looking for perfection and we're always looking to improve and we must continue to do that."
"We've wanted for a long time to make playing for England fun and enjoyable," he added.
"I think they have had a fabulous experience, they have loved one another's company. It's a club-like spirit. The younger ones especially, all of this team can go again, there's no doubt about that but the young ones are still two, four years from peaking. They've had a great insight into tournament football and acquitted themselves so well.
"Those players will be far better for going through so many important wins and landmarks, historic performances. In the main, they performed under huge pressure of being at home for the majority of the tournament, being one of the favourites.
"They dealt with it so well, in the opening game, against Germany, in the semi-final and for a large period of the final we dealt with that."
