The only outfield player to have featured in every minute of England's journey through the group stages at Euro 2020, Kalvin Phillips is in line to feature against their next opponents, Germany on Tuesday night.

The Leeds United midfielder and the rest of the squad sat down on Wednesday evening to watch the drama unfold, as their potential opponents changed eight times during a tense 90 minutes.

"We'd just had dinner and we turned on the Hungary-Germany game, but then we were flicking over to France-Portugal to see all the goals." Phillips told the BBC's West Yorkshire Sport Daily.

"It was crazy, a lot of mixed emotions, we didn't know who we were going to be playing until obviously the game had finished. The results were up and down, even those during the day were crazy with lots of goals, so football wise, it was just a weird day. To be playing Germany now is very exciting."

A far cry from watching Euro 2016 at home with his family, Phillips spoke of how surreal it was being inside the Three Lions' camp, but how he's avoided getting overawed by the occasion.

"It's still surreal. I still feel like a fan wanting to know who we're going to play next, so it's the same as it always has been. Obviously I'm in a different situation where I'm actually playing for England, but to be honest I don't let that get to me. I love football, I love international football and I love England as well, so I just want to do my best and enjoy myself as much as possible."



From high octane Bielsaball to a slower approach with England, Phillips discussed the differences between the two and why he's a defensive player first and foremost.

"I think when I play I just try to leave everything out on the pitch, I'm a very physical player, so I'm trying to get around, win as many balls for the team. Linking up with the attacking players, it's more about giving them the ingredients to go and express themselves."

"For me, I'm a defensive player so the more things I do are going to be defensive than attacking. In the Croatia game, I got an assist so everyone's thinking I'm going to be a number eight, getting assists every game, but that's not really what I do. I'm winning the ball back, getting it to the better players. The manager wants the two holding midfielders to protect the back four, we've not conceded a goal so far, it shows how well we are doing."

With his feet firmly on the ground, Kalvin spoke about how even he gets star struck at times around St Georges' Park.

"I always get star struck with famous people. With Ed Sheeran last night, I was just sat there looking at him, thinking "Ed Sheeran is right in front of me!".

"I think even the first time I joined up with the England team, I was a bit star struck to be honest.

"It's a nice moment for me. Looking back at where I used to play, reflect on how far I've come from when I was younger, and it's always nice to see how well you're doing."