Kalvin Phillips reveals he was one of a small number of England players who watched Italy celebrate winning Euro 2020 'to see what winning a major trophy felt like'.

Phillips started the game, which the Three Lions lost on penalties in July, for Gareth Southgate's side.

Some of the England players on the pitch after their defeat to Italy

And, unlike many who discarded their runners-up medal and trudged off the pitch, Phillips - alongside good friend and former Leeds teammate Ben White, and a few others - decided to stay and watch the Italians lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.

Slightly masochistic, you may think, but, in reality, the midfielder just wanted to experience what that winning feeling looked like.

Other than a Championship title win with Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, Phillips is yet to win any silverware with his boyhood club.

Italy won the final at Wembley

And the Leeds man says that he watched the celebrations to see how the players and fans reacted to winning a major trophy - something he will hope to do with either Leeds or England one day.

"There was me, Ben White, a few other lads," he told The Times.

"I just wanted to see what it was like to win a major trophy.

"I wanted to see their reactions and their fans' reactions as well."

You have to imagine that it won't be long before Phillips gets his hands on a major trophy

Before the final, Phillips also revealed that he received a text from former Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

The 25-year-old, who has been nicknamed 'The Yorkshire Pirlo', received a message from the legendary playmaker which read: 'Good luck in the final and all the best.'

On the text, Phillips said: "Oh my God. I thought he was going to say something about Italy but no, he wished me well. Full respect for that.

'The Italian Phillips'

"I've seen that he's very cool, but I've heard he's a nice guy as well.

"To have someone on the other side wish you well and especially a player like that… it's a great feeling."