The eyes of the football world have been on Euro 2020 over the past four weeks and, in West Yorkshire and beyond, hearts have been bursting with pride as we watched the Leeds United players representing their countries with honour and flying the flag for the Super Whites!
England midfielder Kalvin Phillips was part of the big Euro 2020 news stories and one of the players of the tournament and he was one of seven Leeds stars to be at the Euros as the club had their highest representation at the European Championships, easily beating the four who were at the 1992 competition.
Marcelo Bielsa’s revolution at Elland Road has taken the Premier League by storm and now a new generation of European football fans know exactly who Leeds United are.
Kalvin Phillips: England
The Yorkshire Pirlo had to wait to see if he had graduated from Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad but when he made the final 23, what a tournament he’s had.
Following his man-of-the-match performance in the opening victory over Croatia where he played a gem of a ball through to goal scorer Raheem Sterling, he became a fixture at the heart of England’s midfield.
His partnership with Declan Rice matched opposition midfields, protected the defence and allowed the time and space for England’s attacking players to thrive.
Such was Southgate’s reliance on the Leeds man that Phillips was an ever present and only substituted once the game was won in England’s 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine.
By the time the final against Italy approached, the Euro 2020 betting odds here at SBOTOP marginally favoured England to lift the trophy and if only Kalvin had been in the hosts’ penalty shootout lineup, this could have been the Three Lions’ year.
The England shirt is his to lose now and that’s some achievement for Leeds’ young hero.
Mateusz Klich: Poland
The Leeds midfielder played in all three of Poland’s group games including a draw with semi-finalists Spain and defeats to Sweden and Slovakia.
He was one of Poland’s most influential players and a goal threat, but his nation simply didn’t perform when it mattered.
They had a chance to rescue their campaign when Robert Lewandowski levelled against Sweden but fell short again.
Tyler Roberts: Wales
Young Tyler Roberts travelled with the Wales squad and it was a fantastic experience for the 22-year-old striker as the Dragons made the knockout phase.
He came on for some game time when Wales were chasing the game against Denmark, but chances were limited as Gareth Bale and Kieffer Moore led the Wales attack.
Time is on Roberts’ side and he’s now looking forward to the 2022 World Cup.
Liam Cooper: Scotland
Leeds’ skipper Cooper started in Scotland’s opening day defeat to the Czech Republic but he sat out the draw with England and the defeat to Czech Republic as the Scots crashed out at the group stage.
He missed Leeds’ first game in the Premier League with injury but recovered to play a big part in the Whites’ successful campaign.
And in his appearance at the Euros, he looked as assured as he does week in week out for Leeds.
Ezgjan Alioski: North Macedonia
Alioski scored the only goal from the Leeds contingent at the Euros in against Ukraine in a 2-1 defeat.
2-0 down and midway through the second half, Goran Pandev won a penalty and though Alioski’s spot-kick was saved, he reacted quickly to tuck home the rebound to give North Macedonia a chance.
He certainly made his mark at the Euros. In addition to the goal, he picked up a yellow card in the two other games against Netherlands and Austria.
Diego Llorente: Spain
Two more Leeds players travelled to the Euros with two of the biggest nations.
Centre-back Llorente was in the Spain squad which made the semi-final who were beaten by eventual winners Italy.
But with Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte and Barcelona’s Eric Garcia holding the centre-back places, there was no opportunity for game time for Llorente.
Robin Koch: Germany
Similarly for Koch, he spent the competition supporting his colleagues from the touchline as Mats Hummels and Anton Rudiger took the two places at the heart of Germany’s defence.
But the 24-year-old will have benefited from the experience and he might have an opportunity in the future when the 32-year-old Hummels thinks about hanging up his boots.
All seven stars will soon return to training with Leeds United as the Yorkshire club embarks on a second season in the Premier League, but the memory of Euro 2020 will last long into the campaign and beyond.
The experience can only have made Leeds players better and that’s great news for the Elland Road faithful.
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