The real reason he dropped out of the U21s is he was asked about some of our defensive performances this season, and his response was "You don't know, man, you weren't there!"
I agree, he has most certainly shown maturity here and it's good to see Gareth Southgate publicly state he does understand Dier's situation. I thought both the player and the manager came out of this with some credit.
No he's not nuts ,he wants to develop into a CENTRAL defender,he can't do that playing right back,where he would play in the u21 game
I don't dislike international football - I don't dislike any football - but am I alone in feeling my heart sink when the PL is put on hold for 2 weeks and you're on pins wondering which players will return to your club injured or jetlagged?
Looking comfortable at 2-0 ahead, and then true to form, Butland gets his legs in a muddle and it's 2-1.
Hargreaves has got it right on BT Sport for once. Dier is clearly better off developing himself as a CB for the long term benefit to himself and England, rather than going along as a RB when he isn't needed to cover that position.
The other guy whose name escapes me at the moment, was quite scathing about Dier's decision. Meanwhile Little Tommy Carroll continues to look about 11 years of age.
Was it Danny Higginbotham? I think its spelt something like that. Carroll always looks young, as does Pritchard, but the former looked good again tonight. Hughes, Redmond, Ince and whoever plays at no. 9 out of Berahino, Kane and Ings may be the big ticket names in this England side but Carroll is the one who sets the tempo and puts in a lot of hard yards and unseen work, along with Forster-Caskey. This U21 side look a tight knit and effective group and I hope Southgate doesn't bow to the inevitable media pressure and try and take the likes of Wilshere to the tournament next summer. This group deserve the chance to have a go themselves, taking Wilshere et. al. means those players have to start really to justify bringing them, and that will probably prove disruptive to what seems a good group of players at this level.
Not only is it better for Dier, but it's also better for England, in two ways. Firstly, one of the prospective centre-halves of the future will be actively trying to work on his game. Secondly, someone who is actually a right-back will get experience at U21 level, something which Dier already has.
Mercifully, we didn't get a repeat of 2012 where Bale pulled out of the Olympic squad with a legitimate back injury, confirmed by the Team GB camp, yet the press kept banging on about how we were getting in the way of Olympic glory by pulling Bale out of the squad.
yeah he filled in there,to help his club out when there is no one else avialible,but he was brought as a central defender and that is where he wants to play,so gwell done to him for telling the England set-up,as it is we have to many players ,playing out of position,at Spurs
Scotland win it 1-0. A big result in a tight group. A good corner routine leads to a superb finish from Maloney. An enjoyable game.
Poland top with 10 points, Germany, Scotland & ROI all level on 7 points. Who would have predicted that?
Really wanted to watch that game. I was told to choose between that game and England by the powers that be so had to watch Benedict Cumberbatch running around in a hat instead Wales - Belgium on Sunday should be good too though. British sides have made a great start to the qualifiers, so we should get all of them in the finals.
That pitch looks awful. Couldn't the NFL game have been played at Twickenham or something? Nice to see Clyne getting his shot. Earned it.
