Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford are capable of scaring any international team, according to England team-mate Eric Dier following their dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia.
England were on the verge of relegation in the UEFA Nations League when Andrej Kramaric opened the scoring in the second half. However, Jesse Lingard came off the bench to equalise before captain Kane scored the winner in the 85th minute at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s side are now through to their second semi-final in the space of a year after exacting a small measure of revenge over a Croatia side which dumped them out of the World Cup in Moscow.
Dier praised the quality of match-winner Kane, Sterling and Rashford after the performance, and was delighted to see England continue to improve following their World Cup exploits.
"Yes, I think it is really scary," said Dier as he described the trio's effect on opposition teams. "You have got three players who I think complement each other really well. Of course, Harry we know, Raheem is playing at such a high level now as well, Marcus is really kicking on.
"All three of them have fantastic quality. They complement each other really well. Their work rate is fantastic, which is something people probably won’t talk about as much.
"The way they work for the team, track back. Raheem was making such important defensive actions towards the end of the game.
"Those things are just as important. All three of them have a fantastic attitude, they are brave and direct. It is really positive for us. We have fantastic players throughout the whole side in every position. We have fantastic depth too.
"We believe in ourselves and it is up to those players to step up in those moments and we have been doing that. Individuals have been doing that, the team has been doing that and we need to continue doing that.
"That’s what the manager wants and that’s what this team is about, being brave whoever the opposition is. Believing in yourself, being direct, being attacking, willing to take risks like everyone did and that’s what this team is about and it will continue to be about.
"It is key, I think you have heard the manager say it many times and we need to be all that. I think our basis is our attitude, commitment and work rate. Those are the things that need to exist in every game. Then the quality and the magic come out on top."
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Dier played in 15 of England's 17 games in 2018 and won his 38th cap in the final international game of the calendar year against Croatia.
The Tottenham midfielder has reflected on a rare year of success for England, but he retains the ambition to take the final step and win a major honour for his country for the first time since 1966.
"Yes, it has been a very special year for the England team,” he added. “The World Cup, the game in Spain, the penalty against Colombia, all those moments. There hasn’t been a year like it for a long, long time. We are going to play another semi-final in the space of two years, in another competition.
"It is fantastic for us and a good experience for us. The most important thing is to use it in the best way possible now. We believe in what we are doing. We believe in ourselves and the manager has really instilled that. We feel that within the group.
“I feel like even when we went 1-0 behind, there was a lot of positivity on the pitch. In the crowd as well. They were pushing us on in a really positive way, which maybe hasn’t been the way in the past. So, we really felt that and that’s so important if we are to continue going forward and to be a really good side.
"We are constantly trying to improve and this is another step along the way. We want to keep improving since the World Cup. We could have gone in two directions after the World Cup, we want to keep improving, keep getting better.
"I feel like we have done that, but at the same time, we need to keep getting better. To continue to improve, we know that our potential is huge and it is up to us to fill it."
