The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dier says England respect Panama
Midfielder warns there are no easy games in the World Cup any more
Eric Dier has cautioned England against complacency when they take on Panama on Sunday, insisting the Central Americans deserve “ultimate respect”.
Spirits in the Three Lions camp are high after they kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Tunisia in Volgograd and attention has now turned to Los Canaleros.
The CONCACAF qualifiers are making their first appearance at the tournament and began with a 3-0 defeat in their Group G opener against Belgium.
England are heavy favourites to despatch them in similar fashion but Dier, who was a late substitute on Monday night, insists nothing can be taken for granted come kick-off.
“In football you really can’t get carried away and look too far ahead because that’s when things go wrong,” the Tottenham midfielder said.
“Every game is different but no matter who you’re playing, you have the ultimate respect for them. Our attitude has to be perfect for every game.
“There won’t be any easy game here, that doesn’t exist any more at the World Cup, it’s a myth. You can make a game easy or you can make a game extremely hard – and the opposition can do the same to you.”
England’s squad boast three of Manchester City’s reigning Premier League champions, a pair of Champions League finalists from Liverpool and a hefty Tottenham contingent spearheaded by in-form striker Harry Kane.
Panama, with a Fifa ranking of 55, lack comparable star power but Dier insists any gulf in class can disappear without the right ethic.
“In football, as much as there is talent and greatness and genius those differences between teams are so small,” he said.
“It’s the attitude and commitment and desire which ultimately puts one team over another one.
“For every single game – whether we’re on the back foot or the front foot it doesn’t matter – as long as those key elements are there I don’t care who is favourite.”
Dier has been a regular for England over the past couple of years but was edged out of the starting XI against Tunisia as Gareth Southgate preferred Jordan Henderson as his single shielding midfielder.
Dele Alli’s quad injury could open up a midfield vacancy but with Ruben Loftus-Cheek impressing from the bench in Volgograd and Fabian Delph also available, Dier’s route into the team looks tricky.
“Being the defensive minded midfielder is the position I feel most comfortable when I do play in midfield, but it depends on what the manager wants and how he wants to play,” he said.
“I feel comfy doing many different things, it varies. Whatever I’m asked to do I’ll try to do that to the best of my ability.”
Meanwhile, Bryan Robson has warned that England cannot afford to become over-reliant on Kane.
Captain Kane proved England’s chief inspiration and match-winner in their opening game of the tournament against Tunisia on Monday, scoring both goals in their 2-1 success.
The Tottenham striker’s display has earned him considerable plaudits but former skipper Robson hopes teammates can match his standards.
Robson, who played at three World Cups, said: “Harry’s done well – he’s a top-class striker.
“If you look back at any time England have done well in competitions, they’ve always had a top goalscorer.
“In 1990 when we did well and got to the semi-finals of the World Cup, we had Gary Lineker as well as a world-class player like Gazza (Paul Gascoigne). In 96 we had (Alan) Shearer, a top-class goalscorer, and this time round it looks like we have got a world-class goalscorer in Harry Kane. Hopefully he can keep that going in the competition.
“But the rest of the boys have got to take the responsibility on as well. We can’t rely on just one player. They’ve all got roles to play.”
In England’s favour, Robson senses a strong team spirit and he feels that is a credit to manager Gareth Southgate.
The former Manchester United midfielder, 61, said: “I think he has done a good job. He set out his stall that he was going to go with young players and he made that decision really early.
“It seems he’s worked really hard on the mentality side. The lads have got to enjoy the competition, not be afraid of it, and in that first game they went about it really well. They didn’t really show any nerves.
“You can see England going through to the next stages and that’s when the real pressure comes on, and we’ll see how well the boys can do.”
Robson was speaking at the launch of a partnership between the Dean Trust school in Wigan and the Manchester United Foundation. The scheme has seen the school become one of 20 across Greater Manchester where the club have a full-time coach based to work with pupils, feeder primary schools and local communities.
Robson was given a tour of the school, dropped in on some lessons and even joined in some games of football.
“That’s always the best part – when you go out and start kicking a ball, no matter who it’s with,” said Robson. “I just love to see kids enjoying themselves and running about, getting the fitness going.
“Everybody appreciates you have got to give something back.
This is one way Manchester United and the Manchester United Foundation give back to the community.”
The differences between teams are so small. It’s the attitude and commitment and desire which ultimately puts one team over another one