The midfield enforcer was below par in his final Euro 2016 appearance.
Tottenham star Eric Dier complained of illness prior to England’s clash with Iceland, according to a report in the Mirror.
The midfielder is said to have complained of sickness and a high temperature during the pre-match warm-up in Nice but was still given the nod to start after Roy Hodgson gave him the all clear.
It is a decision which proved costly as the 22-year-old struggled to replicate his earlier tournament form and was hauled of for Jack Wilshere at half-time.
| ERIC DIER | Shots | Key Passes | Pass Accuracy (%) | Tackles | Clearances | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs Russia | 2 | 0 | 89.7 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| vs Wales | 2 | 0 | 84.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| vs Slovakia | 5 | 2 | 93.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| vs Iceland | 0 | 0 | 87.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Looking at the stats from Dier’s Euros tells its own story and the dominant and influential effect he had in the three group games was nowhere to be seen against Iceland.
The Spurs man failed to register a single shot, key pass, tackle or interception as England laboured against an organised and determined Iceland side and his illness surely played a part.
If the report proves accurate it is yet another damning indictment of Hodgson’s managerial abilities and it is little wonder the last 16 was as far as the story went for the Three Lions.
Dier meanwhile should take confidence from his overall display in the tournament and the realisation that he is now fully established as one of the most promising defensive midfielders around.
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