Well, not an actual phalanx, but otherwise yes. And there’s a famous speech by someone whose name I’ve temporarily forgotten which outlines why the Roman stabbing method is superior - three inches into the vitals will kill a man, while a slash may bounce off bone or whatever even if it isn’t blocked. It certainly helps if you have a nice big tower shield, a helmet, armoured shoulders and chest and your buddies protecting your flanks, of course.