Eric Dier insists England are not over the Euro 2016 disappointment
Monday 5 September 2016 09:28, UK
England midfielder Eric Dier insists there is still much work to do before the squad can bounce back from the disappointment of Euro 2016.
Dier was part of the England side which started their World Cup qualifying campaign off with a 1-0 victory in Slovakia on Sunday.
A stoppage-time goal by Adam Lallana against 10-man Slovakia ensured the Sam Allardyce reign got off to a winning start in the new manager's first competitive fixture.
But Dier is adamant it will take more than an unconvincing victory to move on and forget the 2-1 defeat to Iceland, which cost Roy Hodgson his job.
"It is nice to get off to a winning start for us and the manager as we try to put the Euros behind us," he said.
"It is nice to have played another game for England so that the one at the Euros is not the last one now.
"There is a long way to go until the scars have been healed but it is a start. All we can do is win against whoever we have in front of us but I think there is a long way to go before we repay everyone for what happened in the Euros.
"And for ourselves as well because we were the most unhappy of everyone and there is a long way to go until we are happy again."
The Tottenham favourite also called on England to be more clinical in the final third after they struggled to break down a resolute Slovakia defence, which had been depleted when former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was sent off just before the hour-mark.
England did not have an effort on target until the 64th minute and, although Lallana hit the post and substitute Theo Walcott had a late goal chalked off for offside, Dier wants the team to deliver more at the top end of the pitch.
"We played them in the Euros (a 0-0 draw) and they are a very well-organised team," Dier said.
"They have been together for a long time with their manager and they have some good players so we knew it was going to be tough.
"The opposition going down to 10 men makes it more difficult sometimes. We probably should have finished the game off by the time we scored the winner and that is one of the things we are going to have to improve on: being that bit more ruthless."
