Football
PA Sport 8y

England must be 'streetwise' at European Championship - Eric Dier

Eric Dier has called for England to be "streetwise'' at Euro 2016, echoing Wayne Rooney's sentiments from the 2014 World Cup.

Rooney suggested as Roy Hodgson's men crashed out at the group stage two years ago that their style was "too honest'' and needed the kind of "nastiness'' and "clever'' play exhibited by other international sides.

England, now captained by Rooney, are currently preparing for the European Championships that get under way next month, with a friendly against Australia on Friday representing the second of three warm-up games.

And utility man Dier, who looks set to play a key role for the Three Lions this summer, said: "I think international football is a bit different [to English club football].

"I grew up in Portugal where it's quite similar and I don't think it's as aggressive -- it's got more of an intelligent edge.

"I think it's important that we have that. A lot of European and international teams have that intelligent edge as much as an aggressive edge. We've got to be like that too.

"I don't think they go around kicking people. They win fouls in clever places on the pitch, they keep possession, they know how to wind people up, they know how agitate people. We can't fall for that and we can learn from that.

"Streetwise is the perfect way to put it. European teams and nations are like that.

"I think the English are a bit too honest, hard working at times.

"We need to be clever, but we don't want to lose that English attitude either.''

Dier was involved in an English club game full of aggression towards the end of the Premier League season when Tottenham were held 2-2 at Chelsea.

He was one of nine Spurs players to be shown a yellow card as the visitors saw their title challenge end, and teammate Mousa Dembele was subsequently handed a six-match ban over an altercation during the contest with Diego Costa.

Dier disputes the suggestion he and the rest of the team lost their heads, but the 22-year-old does feel the game was important for Tottenham in their quest to move on from the reputation they feel the club has had of being a soft touch.

"I don't think we lost our heads,'' said Dier.

"It was a very emotional game for many reasons. We knew if we didn't win we would lose the title. But I don't think I lost my head.

"I think as a team we wanted to show a different side to our game.

"Things boiled over at times, but Tottenham are trying to get rid of a certain image at the moment and I think that helped.

"I think for a long time Tottenham have had a certain image which I don't think this group of players and this manager [Mauricio Pochettino] enjoy, and we are trying to change that.

"It isn't easy and is going to take time but that is our aim.''

Dier's England Tottenham and England colleague Dele Alli was also recently suspended after appearing to punch West Brom's Claudio Yacob.

And Dier added: "Of course, there's always limits. Everyone knows that and we don't want to see things like in the Chelsea game or any other scenario. I'm not saying go round and beat people up.''

Although they fell short of winning the title in the end, Tottenham and Dier have undoubtedly had a fine 2015-16, with the man signed from Sporting Lisbon in August 2014 as a relative unknown enjoying a rapid rise to prominence.

Last summer he was left out of the England squad for the European Under-21 Championship.

Now, following on from his senior international debut in November and with five caps to his name so far, Dier is viewed as a probable starter at Euro 2016.

He has made a hugely successful switch from defence to a holding midfield role, although he is more than happy to drop into the heart of the back line if required by Hodgson, who has three centre-halves in his 26-man provisional squad for the Euros in Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill and John Stones.

Dier said: "I have had good periods in both positions.

"This season has been my most defining and it has been in central midfield but I feel I could have been at centre-back.''

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