Eric Dier: Gareth Southgate can turn England into serial winners like Spain

Tom Collomosse16 November 2016

Eric Dier has backed Gareth Southgate to give England the qualities that made Spain serial winners.

Southgate is expected to land the England manager’s job on a permanent basis after his four-game stint as interim boss ended with a 2-2 draw at Wembley against the 2010 world champions.

Dier urged England, who have not made a serious impression on a major tournament since they hosted Euro 96, to follow the example of Spain — and believes Southgate is the right man for the role.

“Gareth has left a good feeling after the four games,” said the Tottenham player. “For all the players, the most important thing is that England create an identity and a way of playing football, and that they follow that.

“You saw it with Spain: when they made changes to their team in the second half, it didn’t make a difference to them because everyone knows how they want to play. England need to create an identity of their own, a way of playing that they believe in and that the manager believes in. Gareth has created that over these four games.

“As you saw in the second half against Spain, there are times when we need to keep the ball better and slow games down. If you let teams like Spain have the ball for long periods, it can be tough.”

England were by far the better side for an hour of the friendly and led 2-0 thanks to a penalty from Adam Lallana — who went off injured in the first half — and a second-half header from Jamie Vardy. But when Spain brought on some of their key men, they were transformed, with substitutes Iago Aspas and Isco scoring late to earn the draw.

It is clear that Southgate has the backing of the players. They have beaten Malta and Scotland and drawn with Slovenia in his three competitive matches in charge but the Spain game might prove the most significant.

The commitment and intelligence shown by Southgate’s men for more than an hour suggested they are very keen for him to be offered the job.

The five-man FA panel — Howard Wilkinson, Greg Clarke, Dan Ashworth, Martin Glenn and Graeme Le Saux — will now begin the process of appointing the next manager, with Southgate the hot favourite.

England vs Spain: In Pictures

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Southgate, who had been Under-21 coach, took over after Sam Allardyce was sacked in September following a newspaper sting.

Southgate said: “When I took over it was a moment of instability for everybody.

“I think we have brought back stability and built a platform for the team moving forward. I can see the potential of the group.”

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