Monaco central defender Dell was interviewed by the Telegraph not long ago and talked about the topic of the England national team.
When asked about every time the English list was released and Dell was not among them. "Yeah, it's painful," Eric Dell replied. "Every time is painful. But I hope I can change that." It's been two years and nine months since Dell's last appearance for the national team - a substitute in the Qatar World Cup round of 16 win over Senegal - and his appearances are still at 49 games, and it's also regrettable that he failed to reach the 50-game milestone.
"I don't feel good about it at all. Yes, I don't like it," Dell said. "It's a problem to get stuck in 49 games in itself! I know very well. I want to return to the national team, but I haven't been able to do it in the past few years. But I believe I can be selected, so I will try to break through this uncomfortable 49 games."
Of course, playing 49 times for England is an extraordinary achievement in itself. Dell went through the trough of Tottenham’s fifth central defender (he admitted he could hardly see “the light at the end of the tunnel” at that time), then went to the Champions League semifinal with Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga title, and then joined a team that he believed had “the densest young talent in a single location I’ve ever seen” this summer. He is also planning to pursue a coaching career after retirement.
So, when we sit on the amazing training ground in Monaco, the base embedded in the edge of the cliff of the Principality, with the English slogan "Rise. Adventure. Repeat." - on the entrance wall, there is indeed a lot of topics to talk about.
But first, during this international match day, let's start with England. "To be honest, the past two years have been quite frustrating because I played for Bayern and did a good job," Dell said.
"I participated in almost every game, won the league, and also participated in the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals. So, I played in these games. I feel like I have done everything I can to get into the roster. But it just didn't work."
Did he talk to England coach Thomas Tuchel? It was Tuchel who rescued him from Tottenham's out of favor in January 2024 and brought him to Bayern.
"No, no, I talked to his assistant Anthony (Barry). We met at Bayern, we were very familiar with each other, and those conversations were of course private," Dell said. "But my intentions are clear. I want to return to England. I feel like I have played the best football of my career in the past two years. I feel great about my form of play."
Even if he can no longer play for England, Dell's position in the history of the Three Lions has been solid, especially in the 2018 World Cup World Cup, which scored a winning penalty in the penalty shootout against Colombia. This means England finally won a penalty shootout, and it was the first time since 2006 that it won the knockout round.
"I certainly know that England has had a bad record in the past," Dell said. "That game broke the shackles. Many inner demons were buried. But it was definitely not because of my penalty kick. It was the whole process."
Maybe so. But that was indeed a signature, decisive moment for his contribution. That penalty also sparked the series Dear England, which fictionally tells the struggles of the national team and how players like Gareth Southgate – now Sir Gareth – and Dell have changed it all. The defender is also a character in the James Graham play. So has Dell watched this show himself?
"No," Dell said with a smile. "Actually, it's quite interesting. One night I had a meal in London, and the person who worked at the front desk was the one who played me in the play. He told me."
Then does he look like you?
"I think my wife may not be too happy!" Dell chuckled. "It's quite interesting. I've been invited to see it a few times, but I always miss it." He promised that he would go one day, not like Southgate, who vowed not to see it.
source:wap 7m cn live scores com