FIFA WC: One Tactical Change For Each Semi-Finalist

England- Play Eric Dier instead of Dele Alli

Eric Dier

After years of stale and unoriginal football by the English national team, Gareth Southgate has led a young dynamic English side to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990. Playing with a three-man defense, Southgate has managed to play three central midfielders in Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, and Dele Alli. Henderson has provided solidity to the English midfield while Lingard has been the creative spark- scoring one wonder goal, earning a penalty and providing an assist to Alli in the last game.

Yet, the player that is almost redundant in this formation is Alli. While his goal was crucial against Sweden, Alli doesn’t contribute much in his central midfield role other than making runs into the box. He is an average passer for that position and does not help defensively. Against an overpowered central midfield with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, England could do with another defensive midfielder.

They have the ideal player for that position in Alli’s Tottenham teammate Eric Dier. Dier is a defensive rock, having averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per game for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last season. Dier is also a better passer than Alli with a pass success percentage of 86.3% compared to Alli’s 77.2%. Against Croatia’s brilliant midfield, Dier’s defensive work and passing will be crucial if the Three Lions are to reach their first final since 1966.