England

Phillips on what midfield combination is best to beat France: "That is a hard question. The three that have been playing have been doing an unbelievable job.

"I would choose myself to play in the game but they have done so well so far and they've got results.

"Anyone who gets called upon would be ready for the challenge and be ready to do everything to help the team be successful."

England

Phillips on whether knowing France have Kylian Mbappe has affected them and whether plans end up centring around him: "It hasn't affected them that much to be honest.

"We know he is an amazing player and he has been one of the top players for the last few years and is probably going to be one of the best players in the world.

"We have to think about how to stop him and [Olivier] Giroud and [Antoine] Griezmann. We have been working on tactics to stop the whole team.

"But if there was anyone I would like to put up against Mbappe, it would be Kyle Walker because he is an unbelievable defender and probably the only one that is quicker than him as well."

England

Phillips on the death of a migrant worker in Qatar: "Obviously it's very sad news. It's not something that anybody wants to hear. I've not heard anything about it until now. There's not much I can say as I don't know too much about it.

"We are very sorry for the loss and as a team we send our condolences to whoever has been affected."

England

Phillips on whether the midfield could decide the game: "Any game is decided by the middle of the park and who is playing.

"But ot is still 11 England players against 11 France players. Regardless of whether one midfield is on top of the other, we've still got a lot of players who can make a difference.

"We know it is going to an amazing and very tough game. We are looking forward to it but it is going to be a tough challenge. Everyone is up for it and ready to play if called upon."

England

On Dave the cat, Phillips said: "I think he's our mascot now, he's been walking round with an England shirt on!

"We took him under our wing when we first got there, we were sat in the corner and he started meowing at us so we started feeding him and making him a bit bigger.

"We're still doing that and he's doing well."

England

Phillips on Harry Maguire and whether he is surprised by the criticism that he gets: "We are 100% behind him. I know he's not played as much football as he would have liked this season and he gets a lot of stick, which I think is very undeserved.

"He is a top professional and a great footballer. All you have to do is watch him in a major tournament for England and see he is one of the top defenders. He has been for England for a long, long time.

"When we need to block or someone needs to make a challenge, he is always the first one to do it.

"He has scored some very important goals as well. He has been mocked quite a lot but he is the first person to go to if anything bad happens in this team."

England

Phillips on England being prepared for a penalty shootout: "Over the tournament we have practised quite a lot, and in real situations. We have lined up as two teams and taken penalties as if it was going to happen tomorrow.

"We are very confident in ourselves if it is going to go to penalties. We've got amazing penalty takers anyway."

Will he take one? "I am very easy on taking a penalty. I am an easy person. If Gareth said I was first up, I would be like, 'That's fine',

"If he said I wasn't, I'd be like, 'That's fine'."

England

Phillips on John Stones: "For me, he's one of the best centre-halves in the world.

"I'm not just saying that because he's my friend or plays for Manchester City. He's brought the form he has at City to England.

"He's one of the best centre-halves when we're attacking as well. He is so composed amd confident on the ball.

"His partnership with Harry Maguire - they understand each other and feed off each other. As of now, it's probably the best centre-half partnership in the tournament."

England

Phillips on having a big smile on his face: "We all very excited. We know it is going to be a massive game.

"Every one of us is excited to get out there and do the best for the country, make them proud and make us proud as well."

England

Phillips on whether Kyle Walker has his full pace back: "He's the quickest player I've played against in football.

"A lot of people obviously ask how quick is he and honestly you can't explain it until you've seen it up against another quick player.

"I think we'll see that in a couple of days."

England

Phillips on Southgate and Marcelo Bielsa: "They are very different but I think people underestimate how good a manager Gareth Southgate is. I have been with England for three years and he has been amazing.

"We didn't have good results in the summer but you can put that down to a few reasons, but how he has nurtured this team to winning games and one of the best countries in the world at playing football. A lot of people don't give him credit for that.

"He has got very tough decisions to make. He has unbelievable players that he has to leave on the bench.

"I understand it is a very hard position he is in, but he has been unbelievable since I've been with England. He is an unbelievable man-manager."

England

On England's support, Phillips said: "Obviously the support through the group stages was fantastic but the support in the Wales and Senegal games was amazing.

"I don't want to sound too cliche but they've been the 12th man pushing us on, just absolutely amazing.

"The reaction to the fans at home has also really given us a lift, so hopefully we can keep everyone happy, keep everyone partying and carry on in this tournament."

England

Phillips on playing in either a back four, a back three or a back five and whether they'd be comfortable switching between them: "At Leeds I played under a manager who changed the formation every 15 minutes!

"I am used to it. I played in the deeper four role but I also changed position and played centre-back.

"I feel like if it was to happen in a game I would be comfortable doing it."

England

An interesting one now...

Phillips is asked if he had to play, bench and sell one of Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, what he would do: "Oh, my god! I would start Jude. I love Erling but I reckon if he came off the bench he'd still score a hat-trick anyway.

"I'd sell Mbappe because he'd probably get the most money."

England

Phillips on facing France: "Obviously it's a big game and it's going to be a very tough one as well.

"Every player in these situations will want to do their best to play but if you don't then you're there to support the boys.

"Hopefully, I can get involved but I am looking forward to the atmosphere and the occasion."

England

Phillips on Raheem Sterling rejoining the squad: "It will be a massive lift. He is an amazing player. We're just happy that everything is OK and he can rejoin us and he can play a big part in the next game."

On Sterling's 28th birthday today: "Is it today?? I didn't know! I'll make sure I go out of my way to message him now."

England

Phillips on Declan Rice: "I believe Dec is fit, he's back in training and he's fine.

"If something goes wrong then I'll be there and I'll do my best to be fit for 90 minutes.

"I want to play as many minutes as possible. Regardless of whether Dec is playing or I am, we'll do our best."

England

Phillips on playing more of a bit-part role at this World Cup compared to Euro 2020 and whether he has enjoyed the experience any less: "Not really. I am still enjoying it. I am still having loads of fun.

"I'm not playing as much, which can be frustrating, but if you look at the players playing ahead of me and how well they are doing, I can't really argue.

"I just need to keep working hard and getting fitter and fitter and then make an impact when I come on and be solid when I come on."

England

England midfielder Kalvin Phillips on potentially playing in a World Cup quarter-final : "Obviously I didn't believe I could play in these games but with the hard work that I've done, I've been able to be involved with the squad and hopefully against France as well.

"With me being injured most of the past year and then with the shoulder injury I had just before, I knew deep down there was a chance I wouldn't be involved. I settled with that but I have worked hard to be here."

England

Kalvin Phillips is in the room.