Jamie Carragher and Ossie Ardiles: Dele Alli should start for England at the European Championships
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ByEurosport
Updated 04/01/2016 at 12:49 GMT
Former England international Jamie Carragher believes Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has cemented his place in Roy Hodgson’s starting lineup with his recent performances.
Dele Alli scores the first goal for Tottenham
Image credit: Reuters
Carragher believes that, following Alli's equalising goal in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday, the 19-year-old has leapfrogged Ross Barkley to make himself an essential part of Hodgson’s European Championship plans.
Alli, who celebrated his first start for the national team with a goal against France at the end of 2015, has contributed three goals and two assists in his last six Premier League games.
"You think about his performance and his goal against France. Now I expect him to be in the England squad - I actually think now he’s in the team," Carragher said, in his role as a pundit for Sky Sports.
"I think Roy [Hodgson] and Gary [Neville], they play three in there. The one who has been playing regularly Ross Barkley, Dele Alli has surpassed Ross.
"Now I’m a big fan of Barkley but they might be the two who are fighting for one position, that attacking midfield role, if they play three in there.
"The way he’s performed in the France game, the goal he got you would have to say it’s up to someone else now to take that position off him."
Carragher believes Alli has already shown his tactical maturity in his performances for Mauricio Pochettino this term, and has given every indication that he is ready, despite his young age, to start for England next summer.
"I think there’s always a player who comes on sort of late in terms of the international squad. I think he’s certainly one of them," Carragher added.
"Every time you talk about Spurs you think he’s been one of the best players.
"Initially he has been a central midfielder, he’s come into the Premier League and played there a couple of weeks, then he’s come into the position behind the front two.
"That’s a totally different position really, you’re playing with your back to goal at times, other times you’re facing the play so that just shows his understanding at such a young age to play different roles."
Carragher's comments were echoed by Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles.
"Should Dele Alli start for England at Euro 2016?" Ardiles said on Twitter. "Without a shadow of a doubt. It is frightening how [much] better and better he is becoming.
"I believe as well that England should go to Euro 16 not only with Dele Alli but with a lot of young players: Dyer (Dier), Walker, Kane..."
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