Jose Mourinho calls for Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips to start for England against Croatia

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Jose Mourinho believes Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips should start for England against Croatia.

Gareth Southgate's Three Lions outfit begin their Euro 2020 campaign against the country that knocked them out of the 2018 World Cup at the semi-final stage.

England - who will play all three Group D games at Wembley as part of the 11 city tournament - have included Whites academy graduate Phillips in their 26-man strong squad for the delayed competition.

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Debate surrounds who Southgate will select for the opening game, especially in the centre of the pitch with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson battling for fitness.

Mourinho, though, says he would like to see Phillips start this weekend alongside West Ham's Declan Rice to give England control.

"I think to be offensive you have to be in control of matches. How can you be offensive if you don't have the ball?," he told talksport.

"It is important to control that midfield. I think you play with three midfield players, be in control of that area. When I say with three midfielders, one of them can be [Phil] Foden.

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