Kalvin Phillps has delivered a heartfelt message to fans following England’s disappointing draw with Scotland on Friday night.
The Leeds midfielder expressed his sorrow at the tepid result - but also said that it was another vital point on the board and thereby a step closer to the knockout stages.
The 25-year-old said to supporters in a tweet: “Shame we couldn’t find the winner but another clean sheet and a point closer to qualification. Thank you as always for your incredible support.”
Phillips, like the rest of his teammates, struggled to penetrate the Scottish, in what was a defensive and frustrating Group D encounter.
In the end, Gareth Southgate's men had to settle for a point apiece, with their final group game against the Czech Republic set for Tuesday night.
Phillip's display was a big contrast to Three Lions’ opening game in the Euros against Croatia.
In this game, Phillips pulled off a Man of the Match display, as England ran out 1-0 winners.
It was the Leeds player’s slick through-ball that fed in Raheem Sterling for the only goal of the game.
Phillips earned his first appearance on the international stage last summer. And his rapid progress into the first team of England has been put down to Marcelo Biela’s influence.
The Argentine reportedly changed Phillips’ diet and fitness regime, making for a stronger and more physical player than he was before.
Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, stated that the Leeds-born player should have been taken off midway through the first half, to make way for a creative player.
The Portuguese said via talkSPORT: "What was so good against Croatia – the double pivot, if you want to call it that – was Rice and Phillips."
"Tonight, I would say that if England needed to win this match, I think Phillips would be out in minute 60, 65 and then England would go with a little bit more creativity.
"But again, I think it was the pragmatism of the result, let’s say the fear of losing it, that kept them on the pitch, that kept the clean sheet.”
He added: “In the end, if they don’t read the press and they focus on ‘We have four points, we have qualified, we are going to beat the Czech Republic’, then it probably wasn’t as bad as our feelings are.”
