Mark Halsey urges Rice and Phillips to be 'careful' against Ukraine

Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips showed ‘great maturity’ to see out Germany clash on yellow cards, but Mark Halsey warns pair must continue their ‘first class discipline’ against Ukraine with quicker tempo and possible suspension a cause for concern

  • Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips were both booked during the win over Germany 
  • Mark Halsey urges England players on a booking not to go ‘diving in’ on Saturday
  • Halsey doesn’t think potential suspensions will affect England’s team selection 
  • The former referee has called for a disciplined performance against Ukraine   
  • Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has urged Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips to be careful ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2020 quarter final against Ukraine; after both players picked up bookings during England’s 2-0 win over Germany.

The midfield duo would miss out on a potential semi final due to suspension if they were to be booked again, and England overcame the Ukrainians at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Halsey praised Rice and Phillips for the maturity of their performances after both players were shown yellow cards in the first half of Tuesday’s win over Germany, but called for a disciplined display against Ukraine from England stars who are already on a booking.

Declan Rice was shown a yellow card inside the opening ten minutes against Germany

Kalvin Phillips was also shown an early yellow card during England’s 2-0 win over Germany

‘No game is easy to officiate and definitely not an England vs Germany game – you have to referee what’s in front of you. Halsey told BETDAQ

‘The way Danny Makkelie approached it from the beginning, he engaged with the players, they knew where they stood with him. He stamped his authority on the game with that early caution of Declan Rice, which was absolutely spot on denying a promising attack, and then with Kalvin Phillips later on in the game. 

‘And I thought Rice and Phillips both showed great maturity to pick up two yellow cards in the first half and continue to perform in the tough game that it was. 

Former referee Mark Halsey has urged England stars already on a booking to show discipline

‘If you look at Rice’s caution for that late challenge on Leon Goretzka with him bearing down on goal inside the first 10 minutes, any one of us would have done exactly the same in that situation, it’s football. So, you wouldn’t be disappointed with that part of his game in that situation. He took one for the team, as England were in big trouble. 

‘England’s players on a booking have got to be careful against Ukraine, you can’t go diving in when you’re pressing and closing players down. You’ve got to hold and not make that reckless challenge. 

‘England have got to carry on how they are, but if players do lose their discipline, then you’ve got leaders in the team who will have a word with them. I don’t think the bookings will affect Gareth Southgate’s decision-making for Ukraine. You’ve got to play your best team and credit has to go to Gareth for the way he’s put teams out.’

England will play Ukraine for a place in the semi finals of Euro 2020 on Saturday in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. 




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