Final

Phillips and Rice have got us to this point playing well, Henderson shouldn't just walk into the team.

 

Not sure where anyone suggested that.

Good to see you counter the points made though.

 

In his time on the pitch this tournament has he played better than Rice and Phillips have? Not for me. So for him to start in the final is walking into the team imo.

The point that Jorginho and Verratti will play them off the park? Like Goretzka and Kroos did? Or Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic did? I didn't address the point because there isn't a point.

No surprise that the strongest advocates for this are Liverpool fans

 

If he wasn't injured coming into the tournament Phillips wouldn't have got a sniff so throwing him in wouldn't be that outlandish don't think either of the midfielders have been outstanding and neither possess the skillset that Henderson has.

 

Isn’t it obvious why Phillips and Rice start? 1 goal conceded all tournament. They do a brilliant job shielding the defence, even an Italian on here said their team looks pretty tired, so isn’t it better to save Henderson for when Italy start to tire? Obviously he’s more offensive than Rice and Phillips.

 

I'd suggest a final is a different environment where someone with experience of that environment will bring something else to the team. It's not about who and who hasn't played better and nor would he be walking into the team.

And no surprise you believe there could be no other reason.

 

It's not a question of just walking into the team, he has over 50 caps and is undoubtedly the best central midfielder in the squad. Then you have his big game experience and it is a no brainer.

There is no room for sentimentality, Phillips has just played 120 minutes. He even struggled at times last night against a very average set of midfielders.

 

lol at people massively over rating Henderson. The difference in skill/ability between these 3 players is negligible. They are all good players, none of them world beaters (yet). I wouldn’t swap 2 Henderson’s for Declan rice

And lol at people thinking it’s a good idea to break up a CM partnership that has been so effective, and instrumental in us winning our last 4 games, and making our first final in over half a century

 

But he was, and he has played just over a full games worth of minutes in this tournament. I'd be very reluctant to drop Phillips, he covers an insane amount of ground (15km last night) and shields the defence very effectively.

Personally I'd keep him for when their legs start to go. His pressing and runs from deep when he came on last night was very helpful against tiring legs.

 

I'd personally get him in a midfield 3 with the two of them and lose an attacker otherwise we will be murdered in midfield.

Fair enough I'd match them up in midfield but hey ho.

 

In Gareth we trust.

 

I still can't quite believe that there is a Euro championship thread called "Final" and I'm still involved in it !

 

Here and now, Henderson is far superior to both of them. Rice will probably surpass him at his peak but the game isn't taking place in 5 years time.

 

Keeping a winning CM partnership together isn't sentimentality, it's common sense. Phillips is used to playing every game covering ridiculous distances, the fact he just played 120 minutes is irrelevant.

 

I don't bet anyway, it was just hyperbole. Even if you were to - Italy are 1/1 so it'd be pointless, as you say.

 

You think the reason England have reached the final is the partnership of Rice and Phillips?

 

I got on Italy to win the tournament before they played Belgium so I got some good odds. As you say it isn’t worth it now though.

 

Do you think they had nothing to do with it?