Eric Dier calls for England to be more "streetwise"

Eric 'fluffy' Dier speaks to the media at an England press conference on May 25, 2016
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England midfielder Eric Dier calls for the team to be more "streetwise" in their play if they are to succeed at Euro 2016.

England midfielder Eric Dier has admitted that the team need to become more "streetwise" if they are to succeed at Euro 2016.

Dier learned his trade on the continent while growing up in Portugal before returning to England and quickly becoming a key player for both his country and club side Tottenham Hotspur.

The 22-year-old believes that England teams can be "too honest" at times and hinted that they need to become more intelligent with their play.

"I think international football is a bit different [to English club football]. I grew up in Portugal where it's quite similar and I don't think it's as aggressive - it's got more of an intelligent edge. I think it's important that we have that," he told reporters.

"A lot of European and international teams have that intelligent edge as much as an aggressive edge. We've got to be like that too. I don't think they go around kicking people. They win fouls in clever places on the pitch, they keep possession, they know how to wind people up, they know how agitate people. We can't fall for that and we can learn from that.

"Streetwise is the perfect way to put it. European teams and nations are like that. I think the English are a bit too honest, hard working at times. We need to be clever, but we don't want to lose that English attitude either."

England face Australia and Portugal in their final two Euro 2016 warm-up games before getting their campaign underway against Russia on June 11.

Marcus Rashford is all smiles during an England training session on May 25, 2016
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