Wembley curse is a load of poppycock, says Spurs ace Dier
ANY superstitious Spurs players anxious about their ‘Wembley curse’ will be glad that England have a different home changing room at the national stadium to their club side. Hence Eric Dier, who uses the west dressing room for Spurs, will get changed in the east against Slovakia on Monday because that’s the side of the ground where the main element of England fans are.
The midfielder’s Wembley record couldn’t be more different between the two teams he plays for. He’s won only once in seven games matches as a Spurs player — but boasts four wins and a draw for England. Not that the 23-year-old will admit to any misgivings about returning to a ground where he has already lost to Chelsea and been held by Burnley this season.
‘I’m looking forward to playing there again. It’s one of the historic stadiums in world football and I’m lucky to get the chance to play there every other week,’ he said with an optimism Gareth Southgate hopes will be shared by Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
‘There’s no curse. It’s grass and four lines. People want to jump on the Wembley thing with Spurs but if you look at last season in the Champions League, we weren’t in a good period as a team full stop. We played extremely well against Chelsea even though we lost. Against Burnley, we didn’t kill the game off and ended up drawing.’
World Cup qualifying games can be so monotonous and one-sided it ought to be pointed out that this week’s game against Slovakia carries real importance.
The two countries are placed one and two in Group F with England two points ahead. Victory would put Southgate’s men within touching distance of Russia, defeat would leave them fearing a runners-up spot and needing to go through a play-off to qualify.
It’s a new-look England team with Wayne Rooney cutting the final ties to the Golden Generation with his international retirement ahead of last Friday’s 4-0 win in Malta.
Dier was suspended for that game in Valletta but should return against Slovakia for his 20th cap. That makes him fairly experienced in a squad where only three players have more than 50 — goalkeeper Joe Hart, Gary Cahill and veteran forward Jermain Defoe.
‘England are in a transition stage with a lot of young players and new faces. There’s Harty from Wayne’s generation, but there aren’t many more,’ said Dier. ‘Until we get to the World Cup, it’s hard to say where we are as you only really find it out in a competition scenario.
‘Slovakia will be different to Malta. I’ve played against them a couple of times including Euro 2016 when we drew 0-0. They are a very good side, well organised. Most international teams have one or two good players and Slovakia have more than that, so it will be tough.
‘Wayne will be really missed. He broke so many records but people don’t see the kind of things he would do with myself, Dele and other young players, the way he looked after us was fantastic.
‘I don’t think Wayne was holding us up by the shirt or anything but obviously there is now the chance for other players to try and step into those shoes — and they are pretty big shoes.’