Alli vows to stay cool and not let his country down
England player has learnt from mistakes Deeper midfield role ‘is not new position for me’
Dele Alli has promised he will not let England down by landing himself in trouble at the World Cup after working hard to clean up his act.
Gareth Southgate’s squad travel to Russia tomorrow and start their World Cup campaign next Monday against Tunisia.
There have been fears over Alli’s temperament, even though the 22-year-old did not receive a single red card for Tottenham Hotspur this season.
He has lost his head during important games for Tottenham in previous campaigns, but insists he has learned from his past mistakes.
“I’ll just be myself, the way I always am,” said Alli. “I want to play with passion and I want to play with hunger in every game I play. I’ve made mistakes in the earlier part of my career, but you have to make mistakes to learn from them. And, if you look at my record, I’ve definitely learned from my mistakes.
“When you’re playing the games, you are focused on trying to help the team as much as you can, so you don’t want to put yourself in a position where you could jeopardise the team and lose the game for your team when you’re on international duty for your country.
“I don’t think people will be trying to do bad things and, if they do and they get punished for it, then it’s their own fault. At the World Cup, the refs and linesmen are all from a very high level anyway so you are always aware, and it’s part of football. You have to concentrate and you can’t do stupid things.
“I’ve got everything under control. Every game is different and you never know what’s going to happen, but that’s not what I’m going to be worrying about.
“There are a lot more things I need to focus on and put my concentration on in a game.”
Alli could be deployed in a different position to the one he has played for Tottenham after being moved into a more conventional midfield role by manager Southgate. But he does not mind playing further back if it means he plays a big role for England in Russia.
“It’s not a new position for me,” said Alli. “For my whole time at Milton Keynes I was playing there and it wasn’t really until I signed for Tottenham that I started playing in the No10 role, a bit higher up the pitch, so it’s not something I’m new to.
“I enjoy playing there, but when you’ve got the Three Lions on your jersey you’ll play anywhere you’re needed. Yes, it’s the battleground and there’s a lot of different challenges, but there are no guarantees I’m going to be picked to play there or not.
“There’s a lot of great players in the squad for Gareth to choose from and on the day of the games everyone will be ready, so you’re not just concentrating on one position. Wherever you’re needed, you have to be ready to step in.”
Alli was given a reminder that he will have to fight hard for a place in Southgate’s World Cup team after starting both of England’s friendlies against Holland and Italy on the substitutes’ bench.
“I wasn’t concerned as such,” said Alli. “As players, everyone who gets picked for England is used to playing regularly and obviously I was disappointed not to play. But it’s down to me to make sure that, if the boss has a decision to make, I put myself in the best possible position to be picked.
“I’ve been working hard and you go through a lot of things during the season – ups and downs, physically, and on the field you don’t always perform to your full potential – but it’s important that I come back hungry and make the starting XI if he has a decision to make. “Everyone wants to play and the manager has to pick 11 when there are 23 to choose from, so I’m just one of many people who want to be in the team.” Other than gracing the nation’s television sets this summer, Alli’s face is plastered all over public transport in London, advertising the Boohooman fashion range. “I haven’t been on the Tube to see it for myself, but I hear I’m at the top of every escalator,” said Alli. “People will be getting sick of seeing me!
“It’s something I’ve been interested in for a long time and when you’re a footballer who plays for England, you get a lot of opportunities to try out new things. “Football will always be the main focus for me, but I think it’s great we get these opportunities not only for ourselves but to help other people and I’m honoured to have this opening where I can try out something different.”