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Soccer

Iceland defeat offers stark reminder of English complacency

Eric Dier admits the memory of England's defeat to Iceland last summer is enough to deter his sid...



Iceland defeat offers stark re...
Soccer

Iceland defeat offers stark reminder of English complacency

Eric Dier admits the memory of England's defeat to Iceland last summer is enough to deter his side from becoming complacent.

Iceland recorded the most famous victory in the country's history last summer in France to eliminate Roy Hodgson's team and end their Euro 2016 campaign.

Now under the stewardship of former U21 manager Gareth Southgate, England look to extend their lead at the top of the group to five points and Dier says the team use the memory to help deter them from slipping up against Lithuania on Sunday evening.

"Every time I'm in an England squad I'll probably think about it," he said. "It's a painful reminder. It's a good lesson for the future.

"There's no really easy game to be honest. Every team sets up to try and stop us, especially here at Wembley. I think we just have to be tough going into it.

"We want to try and play quick exciting football. Hopefully they won't be able to handle that. That's the key, to play with intensity and to move the ball quickly."

The Tottenham midfielder also responded to Southgate's decision to change tactics and shift to three at the back during England's 1-0 defeat to Germany this week.

"I don't think he's eager to make anything completely different and change everything for us here and there. He was a player not too long ago so he knows how we think and what's going on through our minds."

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