by For almost a decade we’ve all – to varying degrees – been trying to find out just how good Eric Dier is. Since starting at Tottenham, in August 2014, through a succession of elite managers for club and country, scoring that penalty in 2018, hurling himself into that tackle, sailing into the stands to defend his brother, tweeting against Brexit and having now been unquestionably sealed. move to Bayern Munich, there was always a question mark.
I’m not sure there’s a footballer who wants more success, more willing to prove the doubters wrong. As someone who has also often been accused of stealing a living, maybe it’s just a natural sympathy, my embrace of football. But he is, my favorite Eric from Bananaman.
Related: Eric Dier to seal Bayern Munich’s £3.5m move as Spurs undergo a defensive overhaul
In the world of binary social media, it’s either complete shit or prime shit. In the real world where all the professional footballers are pretty good, the answer is probably only one or two rungs, a yard or two, below the elite. And yet Pochettino, Hodgson, Southgate, Mourinho, Conte and now Tuchel wanted him.
It seemed a little merciless from Ange Postecoglou irked, asked if Spurs could deal with the sale of Dier in this window with all their injury problems, he took a moment and then answered: “Yes.” But then, calmly, that’s Postecoglou’s way. Dier probably appreciates the honesty. It’s not hard to see that it’s time to move on when Emerson Royal is selected ahead of you at center back. Although Dier is right in the middle of that extraordinary high-line picture at home for Chelsea this season, he is not a high-line man.
A decade for any Spurs player usually conjures up images of almost – title challenges, a Champions League final in Madrid, a man looking a little straight after conceding a goal that was nobody’s fault but it seemed completely avoidable (see also Hugo Lloris, Jan. Vertonghen, you know the names). But Dier’s is a memorable career.
It may be problematic to view football through the lens of a mid-life crisis but it is almost unbelievable that he made his debut on the opening day of the 2014-15 season nine-and-a-half years ago. He had four goals with Kyle Naughton, Younes Kaboul and Danny Rose at Upton Park. Injury time, 0-0, both sides down to 10 men, when 83rd minute substitute Harry Kane, forward for an ineffective Emmanuel Adebayor, slips the ball through to the fresh-faced Dier.
Guy Demel plays it side to side, takes one touch past Adrián and slides it home. He celebrates with Kane before Andros Townsend jumps on his back. Lewis Holtby congratulates him. And since that moment, most weeks of my life have been spent at least to some extent thinking about Eric Dier.
Memories. He scored England’s first ever penalty in a men’s World Cup final. Perhaps it is a reflection of how Dier is perceived that you would “really” feel across the country? as he stood up to take the decisive spot-kick. The England shirt was never universally liked, but neither was Phil Jones, nor Harry Maguire.
The BBC’s World Cup montages alone are worth the license fee and the one they did before the 2018 semi-final with Croatia spliced together for a lifetime of penalty heartache with the last-16 shootout against Colombia. Characteristically, Dier is the best supporting actor here with Jordan Pickford the star. But, still, what a moment. Not the cleanest strike, he participates rather than leads the celebration but he is a man of history.
Perhaps the cleanest strike in an England shirt came against Sergio Ramos in the 3-2 win in Spain. Ten minutes into the game, he runs 20 yards to storm through Ramos in the Spanish penalty area. “I want Eric Dier’s tackle on Sergio Ramos to be played at my funeral,” tweeted David Squires. If Postecoglou had seen such high pressure things might have been different.
Has any player gone into the crowd to address fans and received universal support? After Spurs won on penalties at Norwich in the FA Cup, Dier climbed over the seats in his boots (not an easy feat) to defend his brother. Admirable action, if not admirable, action.
And “he’s not that kind of player” – an urban non-footballer. In 2019 he tweeted in favor of a #public vote. “I don’t regret it at all” he told the Daily Mail. “I am very strong against it [Brexit] and time is telling, showing that [it’s wrong for the country].”
Dier argued that our cliched view of the dressing room is just that and that conversations go beyond Dubai, cars and tattoos. A mutual friend sent me a podcast that Dier hosted about the garden he grew while locked up. It’s just a guy who sounds like a normal person, even though there’s a walled garden and an orchard, talking about planting trees and how to bend down with your feet while weeding. Interesting, interesting and understated.
Football is too ruthless to care about how good you are as a person, but it’s still important to hear Dele Alli talk about the importance of his friendship with Dier and how much support he’s given through struggles well publicized Everton midfielder for you. consider its propriety.
Maybe decency deserves success. For Brendan-Rodgers small things, Dier is seen as a man of great character. The word consummate is overused, but it stands with Dier. The past few months at Spurs must have been very difficult. His arrival at the Allianz may surprise many, but there won’t be a Spurs fan who doesn’t wish him well. It would be a testament to him if he had another moment and this time it’s about lifting a trophy.
