World Cup 2022: England v France - Gareth Southgate's ability is underestimated, says Kalvin Phillips

England manager Gareth Southgate is not fixed capable recognition for the occupation helium has done, says midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

"I deliberation radical underestimate however bully a manager Gareth Southgate is," Manchester City subordinate Phillips said.

"I person been with England for 3 years and helium has been amazing."

Southgate began his reign arsenic England manager successful October 2016, winning 49 and losing 13 of his 80 games successful complaint since.

But the decision by Croatia successful the past 4 of the 2018 World Cup successful Russia, followed by different by Italy connected penalties successful the Euro 2020 final, led to questions astir Southgate's quality to get the astir retired of his talented squad.

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Further concerns were raised during a mediocre Nations League run earlier this year, peculiarly aft a humiliating location thrashing by Hungary wherever England fans chanted 'You don't cognize what you're doing' astatine the manager.

England person since recovered to scope the World Cup quarter-finals successful Qatar, with Southgate earning recognition for his tactical decisions that led to a 3-0 triumph against Senegal successful the past 16.

Now his credentials volition beryllium enactment nether scrutiny again erstwhile his broadside look defending champions France successful Doha.

"We didn't person bully results successful the summertime but you tin enactment that down to a fewer reasons," said Phillips, who has played nether Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola - some internationally revered coaches - astatine Leeds and Manchester City.

"How helium has nurtured this squad to winning games and 1 of the champion countries successful the satellite astatine playing football. A batch of radical don't springiness him recognition for that.

"He has got precise pugnacious decisions to make. He has unbelievable players that helium has to permission connected the bench.

"I recognize it is simply a precise hard presumption helium is in, but helium has been unbelievable since I've been with England. He is an unbelievable man-manager."

England's signifier tin frighten France - Mount

One of Southgate's biggest tasks this play is however to nullify the menace of France's in-form guardant Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe, 23, is the tournament's starring scorer with 5 goals successful 4 games and has been progressive successful each of Les Bleus' past 7 goals successful Qatar.

While England volition person to wage plentifulness of attraction to Mbappe, midfielder Mason Mount says it volition not distract England from utilizing their ain attacking strength.

"Mbappe is precise dangerous. When you play against players similar this you possibly springiness a spot much absorption connected them than accustomed due to the fact that you cognize what they tin bash and however they tin wounded you," the Chelsea subordinate said.

"But we are acceptable for that challenge. We cognize what we tin bash and however we've been playing.

"We request to proceed that signifier due to the fact that it tin beryllium frightening astatine times if we are astatine the apical of our crippled and scoring goals. I deliberation scoring 12 goals successful the tourney truthful acold is close up there.

"We are successful a bully spot and assured successful however we person played. The performances person been apical people and present evidently this is our toughest test."

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