Updated at 17.37

ENGLAND MIDFIELDER Kalvin Phillips has backed team-mate Harry Maguire as the much-maligned centre-half prepares for the ultimate World Cup quarter-final test against France on Saturday.

Manchester United defender Maguire has started just three games in the Premier League this season due to a combination of injury and the arrival of Argentine Lisandro Martinez, but has been solid so far for England in Qatar, where he has started every game.

It marks a stark turnaround in fortunes for Maguire, who became the butt of many jokes on social media after a bad run of form last season.

Phillips said Thursday he believes much of the Maguire mockery is wrong.

“I know Harry Maguire has not played as much football this season as he probably would have liked this season and he does get a lot of stick, which I think is very undeserved,” Phillips told a news conference.

“I think he’s a top professional and a great footballer and all you have to do is watch England in major tournaments and when he plays for Manchester United, I think, he’s one of the best defenders and I think for England he’s been one of the top defenders for a long time and especially in tournament level,” he added.

Phillips feels Maguire, who is up against France’s record goalscorer Olivier Giroud on Saturday, is a player that England can rely on.

“He’s always been that player that when we’ve got set pieces or when we need to block or when anybody needs to make a challenge, he’s always the first one to do it.

“And he’s always the first one to get his head to the ball. Obviously, he’s scored some very important goals as well,” he said.

“I think a lot of people…because, he’s been obviously mocked quite a lot the past few years, I think he’s just the first one they go to if anything bad happened in the England team, he’d be the first one for anything to be said about.

“It’s very undeserved. And, like I said, I think if you look at the major tournaments he’s played in and how well he’s done then, you can’t really mock him because he’s been unbelievable,” Phillips added.

The Manchester City midfielder also had plenty of praise for his team-mate and Maguire’s central defensive partner John Stones.

“I believe that John is one of the best centre-halves in the world right now.

“I’m not just saying that because he’s with England or he’s my friend or plays for Manchester City. I genuinely believe that – he is one of the best centre halves in the game at this moment in time. He’s very composed on the ball, one of the best central defenders you could have distributing the ball.

“His partnership with Harry is an amazing partnership as well – they understand each other so well and feed off each other, help each other out. As of now, it’s probably the best centre-half partnership in the World Cup”

Meanwhile, Maguire says England’s players feel like they have “got to win this tournament” in Qatar – a sea change in the group’s mentality from the last World Cup.

Gareth Southgate’s men are preparing for a crunch quarter-final against reigning champions France on Saturday at Al Bayt Stadium, where the winner will return for the semi-finals.

Portugal or Morocco would await at the stage England reached in Russia four years ago, having surpassed expectations during a remarkable run that ended in an extra-time defeat to Croatia.

Southgate’s side kicked on from that disappointment by reaching last year’s European Championship final and Maguire believes they can go one step further in Qatar.

Asked if it is difficult not to lie in bed and think what it would feel like to lift the World Cup, he said: “Probably, yes.

“I think that’s the one thing I’d say that’s a lot different from the 2018 squad to this squad — I think we really believe that it is possible.

“I played in 2018 and we got to the semi-final and I think a lot of the lads were happy. You were happy to be part of the semi-final.

“You know that whatever happened in that semi-final that you’d go home and be classed as a hero and everyone would be patting you on the back.

“I think now there’s a belief that we’ve got to win this tournament. It is a good change in the mentality.

“Of course, we know how tough it is going to be. I think there are probably five or six teams with the same belief.

“But in 2018, we probably weren’t one of those teams that had that belief. Now there’s five or six who have that belief and we’re one of them.”

Harry Maguire with Jordan Pickford. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

That belief is showing on the field, where Maguire feels England are controlling games a lot better and approaching opponents with a front-foot mindset.

Mentality and belief have helped on a collective and individual level, with the 29-year-old defender impressing at a tournament many onlookers felt he should not be at.

Maguire has struggled for game time and form at Manchester United, yet the England centre-back has impressed in Qatar and says his confidence never wavered.

“I don’t read too much if I’m being honest,” he said.

“You pick up bits and bobs and maybe my family read things more than me. I tell them to stay off (social media), but maybe they don’t because it’s a habit for most people these days.

“So, no, I read little bits and bobs, but I’m 29 years old, the captain of Man United and have made 52 appearances for my country.

“So, when I look back on my career and put everything into perspective, if I was a young boy then I’m living the dream. I’m doing everything I always wanted to do.

“So, where I’m at at the moment, the next stage of my career I want to start winning trophies.

“The last year has been difficult, and I haven’t played as well as I’ve done in the previous five years at the top level.

“But I think during a career there’s only probably Lionel Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo) who are the only two who’ve not had a dip in their careers.

“It’s a 15-year career if you’re lucky really, there’s no way really, especially with all the scrutiny that’s on defenders these days, you’re not going to have dips.

“I’m probably going to have another one as well, but its how you come back, how you bounce back from them. You’ve got to remain focused and keep the belief in yourself.”

Maguire is grateful for manager Southgate’s unabated backing as well as that of team-mates, who have seemingly taken it in turns to praise the centre-back during the World Cup.

He is not only impressing on the pitch in Qatar but in the team hotel, where he has excelled playing ‘wolf’ — a card game based around weeding out liars and building trust.

“I’m quite good at psychology, to be honest — I’ve needed to be over the last year or so,” the defender said to laughter.

Maguire played it at Leicester and says “the more you play the game, the more you see”, adding “you get to look at what people are doing, how they’re acting”.

The game has helped the team bond while also allowing him to lean on skills that have become important in everyday life.

“I think especially being in my position, it’s really important to know who you can trust,” he added.

“You build relationships over your career and I feel I know now who I can speak to, who I can trust and I’ve a lot of people I can trust. That’s for sure.”

Additional reporting by AFP

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