Dele on World Cup character
Dele Alli has described his emotions watching from the bench as his Spurs team-mates helped break England’s penalty shootout hoodoo to take the Three Lions into the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
The last 16 tie against Davinson Sanchez’s Colombia went down to the nerve-shredding shootout after Yerry Mina levelled Harry Kane’s second half penalty in the third minute of added time.
Harry, Kieran Trippier and, crucially, Eric Dier all stepped up and slotted past Colombia’s Arsenal goalkeeper David Opsina from 18 yards. Eric was presented with the chance to convert the match-winning penalty and grabbed it with both hands.
Substituted for Eric in the 81st minute, Dele sat on the bench as the drama unfolded – and watched the first penalty shootout win by England in World Cup history.
“It was more nerve-wracking on the bench when you can’t play a part in it, but the boys did fantastic and we’re through to the next round," he said.
After the game, Dele spoke of the resilience the England squad displayed. “We showed the real character that we have here as a squad to keep fighting and to win the game,” he said. “When you concede such a late goal it can really knock you back but we didn’t panic.”
The Three Lions will need to continue to feed off that fighting spirit when they step out on Saturday against a stubborn Swedish side in the quarter-finals in Samara (3pm UK). Sweden have already held off the likes of Germany in the group stages.
“We’re confident in ourselves and we want to get to the final and hopefully win it, but we know it’s going to be difficult,” added Dele, now capped 27 times at the age of 22. “The other teams have shown how difficult this World Cup has been.
“There’s no easy game but we have to believe and we have to keep fighting in every game.”