Eric Dier continues compelling comeback to pose Gareth Southgate Euro 2024 dilemma | OneFootball

@Dan_KP

If some followers of English football were confused about Eric Dier’s place in Bayern Munich’s starting XI, Wednesday night provided the answer.

When Dier joined from Tottenham in January, it was easy to imagine he was swapping one bench for another, but the centre-back produced an assured display of the highest level as Bayern eliminated Arsenal from the Champions League.

For Dier, a place in the semi-final against Real Madrid continues a compelling comeback story and remarkable season arc: he was Spurs’ forgotten man in the first half of the campaign, starting just once under Ange Postecoglou, but has quickly become a key figure for the six-time European champions.

Playing as the left-sided centre-back in Thomas Tuchel’s back four, Dier produced probably his best-ever performance against Arsenal.

He was composed in possession, playing out crisply with his right foot, and made a succession of well-timed challenges. When Martin Odegaard finally had sight of goal late on, Dier got his studs on the Arsenal captain’s shot to help it into the side netting.

Dier was well-liked by every Spurs coach pre-Postecoglou, but there have been questions about his consistency and reliability as a centre-back, particularly in a four, since he called time as a defensive midfielder around five years ago. There should be fewer doubts now.

Before the first leg, Dier said he is good enough to play for England again, but insisted the tie was not an audition to return to the squad.

Back on form: Eric Dier delivered a defensive masterclass as Bayern Munich toppled Arsenal

AP

The 30-year-old has not been called up for over a year, and the question for Gareth Southgate is whether it is now too late to pick him for this summer’s Euros.

If Dier helps Bayern keep down Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham in the semi-final, he will be hard for Southgate to ignore. For Dier, who has always believed in his own ability, the form he is showing now has always been there.

“I don’t feel I’m ‘getting back’ — I think I’ve been in the best phase of my career,” he said after the game. “Obviously, at the end of last season, I had an injury, had surgery and then didn’t play for six months, but I’m very proud of the way that I persevered during that time, and now I’m benefiting from the fruits of that.

“I feel like I’m in the best form of my career and I think I will be now for a couple of years if I continue to work in the same way and play the same.”