Eric Dier has earned a recall to the England squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League games. Last involved in a Three Lions squad back in March 2021, the centre-back's call-up is fully deserved after a strong start to the season for Tottenham.
A pivotal part of Antonio Conte's three-man defence, the ex-Sporting CP has been a key figure in Spurs' transformation under the Italian. Many fans had called for Dier to be recalled to the England reckoning earlier in the year but Gareth Southgate elected against naming the 28-year-old.
He will now have the chance to take to the pitch for his country for the first time since featuring against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League in November 2020. England face Italy at the San Siro next Friday before facing Germany at Wembley three days later.
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The two fixtures are England's last games before the start of the 2022 World Cup and all involved will be doing their best to ensure they are part of Southgate's plans for the tournament in Qatar in November. Dier will compete with centre-backs Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi, Conor Coady, John Stones and Fikayo Tomori for a place in the team.
Dier's Tottenham teammate Harry Kane is part of the 28-man squad, with Brentford's Ivan Toney earning his first call-up after a strong start to the season for the Bees. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are not part of the squad despite impressing for the Red Devils in the opening month of the new campaign.
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