G8LC D< JFE

®Êby PAUL BROWN

winning team, but we will find out how good we really are against Belgium – the kind of game where you need Dier.

He should come in for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who did alright but was nothing special. Against the big boys you need someone like Dier in there protecting the back three.

That will be important as the tournament goes on. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t play at this World Cup and now is the time to play him. Our passing from the back has been sloppy at times and the back three still have a mistake in them. Play Dier as a shield and tell Lingard, Sterling and the wing backs, “Go and win us the game.” Gareth Southgate must surely be looking at that. Dier never lets you down, and is one of Gareth’s favourites. He won’t be out of this team for long. Some England players have earned a rest and I think Gareth might give a few others their chance.

Belgium look like they will be doing the same thing with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.

I still think England need to get to the easier side of the draw but the players should only be thinking about winning this game.

Keep the momentum going, keep the confidence high, see if it can snowball.

You can’t knock the job Gareth is doing. I thought he was safe appointment by the FA.

He was probably shocked to get it himself. It’s not a young man’s job. But he was a top player, a good bloke, and he’s got experience of playing in major tournaments.

I think that’s really helped. He’s kept this team together and smiling. They look totally relaxed and like they are enjoying themselves. How often can you say that about England?

But all of these players are still improving. They are not at their peak yet. Imagine what they could be like in two years’ time.

England still might find this tournament has come too soon for them, but if they keep improving I would expect them to win the Euros next time around.