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Euro 2020

Jose Mourinho: England’s fear of losing kept Kalvin Phillips on pitch against Scotland… they didn’t even try to win

I DIDN’T see any risk or desire from England to gamble and try and win. 

What was so good against Croatia was the midfield pairing of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips. 

Jose Mourinho believes England’s fear of losing kept the likes of Kalvin Phillips on the pitch at Wembley
The Special One believes England played a pragmatic game in their draw with Scotland

If England needed to beat Scotland then I think Phillips would have been subbed around the 60th minute for more creativity. 

But a fear of losing kept him on the pitch. 

The pragmatism of the result and qualification showed itself clearly from minute 70 to 75, that it was more important than the emotion of the game or the desire to win against a historical rival. 

At full back, the intention of Gareth Southgate was correct in the sense of a pure left-footed left back in Luke Shaw and an offensive player like James. 

The intention was for them to really go, but in reality I remember just James hitting a shot from the edge of the box and Shaw trying to score with the outside of his foot. 

I didn’t see any crosses from them, I didn’t see any progression, I didn’t see any overlaps. 

They were solid defensively and good positionally, but they should give a little bit more. 

I don’t think it’s a drama for the English camp, it’s more a drama for the fans waiting for a big match against Scotland. 


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England have four points, they’re fine. They kept a clean sheet and have qualified already with four points.

Scotland were amazing and put them in that situation. 

They went with five at the back again but Scott McTominay is a midfielder who can build. 

Kieran Tierney is a left-back who can build, while Grant Hanley is much more comfortable in the middle than on the right. 

Those three in the middle were solid but at the same time they had more possession and were more fluid with the ball. 

And then the work rate of the two strikers was incredible throughout. 

Tierney, Billy Gilmour and Che Adams didn’t play against the Czech Republic and they made the difference, especially the kid Gilmour. 

He was always moving, always showing himself, always wanting the ball.

He was turning under pressure and linked the game brilliantly. 

They were in control of their emotions but brought them to the game. 

Steve Clark organised the game tactically very well, but more important than that was their spirit – they came not just for a football match, they were coming for a football match against England at Wembley. 

They were united and ready to fight, but confident enough to play. 

They go home as heroes and the door is still open for them to qualify against Croatia, who are not showing a huge threat. 

Jose Mourinho was speaking exclusively to talkSPORT