• ‘Our manager establish us in this position by giving us a chance at our club’
• After ‘brilliant test’ against Germany,friendly against Holland awaitsEven in the context of a grand finale the focus was drawn to the more flamboyant of England’s contingent from Tottenham Hotspur. Thoughts lingered over Dele Alli’s boundless energy or Harry Kane’s spin and shot, which had sparked the visitors’ comeback. Yet, and while the club-mates enjoyed their own post-match huddle in the dressing room at the Olympiastadion,the national coaching staff will possess been just as buoyed by the contribution of the midfield anchor turned match-winner in their midst.
Eric Dier’s first goal for his country, a header crunched emphatically beyond Manuel Neuer from Jordan Henderson’s corner, or represented fine reward for a hugely encouraging display. The 22-year-old,schooled in Portugal at Sporting, remains a relative novice (one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience) to the central midfield role he adopted under Mauricio Pochettino at the start of this season. That might explain the flash of indecision in the buildup to Toni Kroos’s opening goal, or when Dier was too busy urging Nathaniel Clyne to intercept rather than closing down the player himself.
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Source: theguardian.com