Dele Alli says this England team is revelling in the satisfaction of knowing they are bringing the country together in their bid to win the World Cup. Alli put the gloss on England's 2-0 win over Sweden with a header, notching his first goal of the tournament as the Gareth Southgate's side reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years. Want to say a special thank you to the whole country for the support we've received so far, it's means to much to me and the whole team! 🦁🏴 pic.twitter.com/YNPy64RpI0 — Dele (@dele_official) July 8, 2018 And the Tottenham midfielder insists the squad know exactly what England's World Cup performances mean to the nation. He told Sky Sports News: "The tournament has been unbelievable even for Russia as well, they played great they were unfortunate to go out last night but I think they did their country proud. 2:31 Here are the reactions of England fans around the country to Harry Maguire and Dele Alli's goals against Sweden "But for us, it's all about the experience. We've been playing well, we're learning and we're all enjoying it. "We've seen the videos from back home and it seems like the country is really coming together so we're happy to have that influence." Image: Gareth Southgate and Alli share a hug after quarter-final win Southgate's team face Croatia in the second semi-final in Moscow on Wednesday night, and Alli knows England have a far-from-straightforward task as they bid to emulate the World Cup-winning heroes of 1966. "It's going to be difficult," he said. 0:58 Raheem Sterling will create opportunities in any side that he plays in, according to former England international Darius Vassell "The semi-final of a World Cup is not an easy game, but it's a game we feel we are ready for. We're confident but we know it's going to be very difficult. "But the way the tournament is going so far, whoever we come up against, we feel confident we're going to win. And we have to be like that, I think, if we are going to get in the final, so we'll have to perform well and play well." England forward Raheem Sterling added: "We are going to get ready to go again, recover, that is what we are doing now - relax. Move forward and look forward to the next game."<doc-sep>THE theory goes that tomorrow night is when the World Cup gets truly serious for England. Despite the glory of the nation’s greatest journey in 28 years, Croatia will represent a serious step up in class from anything they have faced in Russia. 8 England hero Dele Alli nutmegged Luka Modric in a pre-season friendly for Spurs 8 The pair will go head-to-head once more when England meet Croatia in the semi-final Credit: Rex Features This lot are dripping with Champions League winners, not least Luka Modric, who has helped inspire Real Madrid to three in a row. But Dele Alli isn’t too bothered about that. You see, this was a kid who’d nutmegged Croatia captain Modric before he’d even made his Premier League debut — and happily admits that he’d love to do the same again in the match of his life in Moscow tomorrow night. A kid who’s scored against each of Tottenham’s big-six rivals. And two against Real Madrid and a belter on his full England debut against France. 8 The pair met again in the Champions League group stages last season Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd And, of course, in Saturday’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden despite, by his own admission, having played like a drain up until that point. This is a kid who says he never gets nervous. A kid who’s determined to enjoy football’s grandest stage in a way he never could while getting lumps kicked out of him in League One with MK Dons. In keeping with the rest of England’s squad at a World Cup which has been a triumph both on and off the pitch, Dele is wonderfully relaxed as he sprays around the anecdotes at base camp up in cool, leafy Repino. So first up, Dele, tell us about the time you were called a ‘little bugger’ by Modric for slipping the ball between his legs in a 2015 pre-season friendly against Real Madrid in Munich’s Allianz Arena... “I remember it,” he says, “I always enjoy a good nutmeg. I didn’t shout ‘megs!’ I have never done that, even in training. 8 Dele Alli was in good spirits as he met with a group of British journalists Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd “Some people when they nutmeg (someone), they call it but it’s never been something I’ve done.” So would he like to repeat the trick tomorrow night? “Hopefully,” says Dele, “I’m not going to focus on that but it would be nice! “I don’t know Modric personally. But the guys who played with him at Tottenham said he was an unbelievable person and everyone can see how good he is as a player. “I think he’s a worry for any team, he’s world class and someone you enjoy watching. But we are confident, we have a lot of threats as well.” Then I ask Dele to name a match that was the least glamorous he’s played in. The polar opposite of a World Cup semi-final. 8 Dele Alli powers home a header as England beat Sweden 2-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals Credit: AP:Associated Press And without any need to rack his brains, he shoots back: “Bradford away.” A gruff-speaking, burly journalist warns him: “I’m from Bradford . . . ” “Oh, it’s a beautiful place!” laughs Dele, “but it was a night game, the pitch was horrible. It was a horrible game. “They had (6ft 4in James) Hanson up front, they were very aggressive and it wasn’t nice. “Every time I got the ball people would be kicking, swearing. An aggressive game. I’d signed for Tottenham already and then went back to MK on loan. And when I went back to Tottenham, they were telling me they’d watched that Bradford game. I was thinking, ‘Oh no . . . ’” Modestly, Dele doesn’t recall scoring that night, in a 2-1 defeat, or that an on-loan Jordan Pickford was in goal for the Bantams. 8 Dele admits he hadn't played his best at the tournament before the Sweden game Credit: AP:Associated Press Much has been made of the lower-league roots shared by many of those aboard this Gareth Southgate fun-bus, with its satnav set for Paradise. Dele said: “There are a lot of different paths you can take to getting to the England senior team. A lot of the boys have played together in the younger age groups, or played against each other in League One or Championship. “But we all get on really well, we don’t take anything for granted, we know how much of a privilege it is to be here.” Those formative years in Milton Keynes were not all about bruising encounters at places like Bradford. There was the outstanding influence of his former youth coach Dan Micciche, who guided Dele through teenage years that included growing pains both literal and figurative. And then there was the astonishing 4-0 thumping of Manchester United in the 2014-15 League Cup when a teenaged Dele tried — and failed — to get Danny Welbeck’s shirt. 8 Dele with girlfriend Ruby Mae (second left), friend Harry Hickford (right) and Alan and Sally Hickford, who he lived with from the age of 13 “Me and Danny have a joke about it because I asked him for his shirt,” Dele recalls. “He wouldn’t give it to me although he was polite about it, he wasn’t naughty. “I’ve still got my shirt from that night. I wasn’t going to swap, I just wanted his!” There have been setbacks on Dele’s path here. The most crushing blow of all was defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016, after which he admits, “I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me . . . I just wanted to lock myself away”. According to Mauricio Pochettino, this is the ‘best young player in the world’ and, in the view of Sir Alex Ferguson, England’s greatest talent since Paul Gascoigne. Yet after suffering a thigh injury in the opener against Tunisia, he had struggled to make an impact in the last-16 win over Colombia or against Sweden, up until the moment when he nodded home a Jesse Lingard cross to put England 2-0 up. “I didn't feel like I was playing as well as I should have,” he admits. 8 England boss Gareth Southgate embraces Dele after he came off against Sweden Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS WHAT A JEN How old is Jermaine Jenas and what's his net worth? MEDALS 1 CAPS 0 Stars who won World Cup without playing a single game, like Fulham's Areola HORROR ORDEAL Brit gang-rape victims bravely fought off attacker by biting him, say cops RU BEAUTY Who is Ruby Mae and how long has she been with Dele Alli? PRETTY WOMAN Amanda Holden spotted in £85 Forever Unique 'Pretty Woman' dress Cheap as kits Here's where you can get England's 2018 football kit the cheapest HIGH PRAISE Obama brands Messi 'wonderful' as he offers advice over World Cup struggles Quiz RUSSIA REWIND See how much you can remember about the craziest moments at World Cup 2018 “Even speaking to my family, I didn't feel I was playing well, especially in the first half, not in possession of the ball anyway. “Defensively I did my job but you want to be on the ball creating chances and being a threat. On the ball I wasn’t sharp enough, I didn't keep it as much as I should have. "So to score, it gives you a lift. But I’m my own biggest critic. “I’m not nervous. I know what I’m doing and I know I can play better.” Keep your legs closed Luka, old son. Tweet @davekidd_<doc-sep>DELE ALLI's estranged mum has revealed her pride over the England star's World Cup heroics. But she has also told of her anguish after watching him star against Sweden from 2,500miles away in her modest council home in Milton Keynes. 7 Dele's mum Denise has told of how she has been watching her son play for England from the comfort of her home while he lights up the biggest tournament in the world Credit: Roger Crump - The Sun England star Dele Alli scores England's second goal against Sweden and gets mocked on twitter for his celebration 7 Dele Alli celebrates scoring for England in their 2-0 World Cup quarter-final win over Sweden Credit: Alamy Live News The 22-year-old attacking midfielder scored England's second against Sweden to give them a comfortable cushion in their quarter-final on Saturday. It marked a World Cup breakthrough from the Tottenham star, who has had a frustrating time in Russia so far, with minor injury problems marring the group stages. But he and his Three Lions pals were superb in Samara, as noted by his mum, who works as a cleaner. Fans will have noted Alli posed for pictures with stunning girlfriend Ruby Mae and his foster parents Alan and Sally Hickford after the victory over the Swedes. Kyle Walker, John Stones, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard celebrate Sweden win with tribute dance to class of Italia ’90 WORLD CUP NEWS NO HARD FEELINGS Man dumped by Gareth Southgate's wife insists he holds no grudge 'i want a girl' England star Kyle Walker's model girlfriend reveals she wants FOURTH baby ON THE PLANE Who is Seema Jaswal, how old is ITV World Cup presenter and is she married? 7 Denise lives in modest accommodation in Milton Keynes and works as a cleaner Credit: Roger Crump - The Sun She told the Daily Mail: "Seeing that photograph was upsetting. I know he considers them his family, but I am still his mum. It does hurt to see photos like that. "Of course I would love to be in Russia with him. I sent him a message before he went to the World Cup and when he scored the goal, but I have not heard anything back. "He does not contact me anymore which makes me so sad and only answers messages from my daughter. "I do not want anything from him. I just want a hug from my son who has made his mum so proud that he is playing for England and scoring in a World Cup." England take on Croatia in the second semi-final of the World Cup 7 Denise poses outside her house in the Buckinghamshire town Credit: Roger Crump - The Sun Alli's mum told The Sun two years ago she gave him away to help him make a better life for himself in Milton Keynes. And she said then she knows she made the RIGHT decision when she sees him star on the football pitch. Denise said: "I had to let him go to give him a better future. "Emotionally, it was heartbreaking but it was the right thing to do. "I had a serious drink problem triggered by my unhappy childhood. Dele Alli and Harry Kane join in with exercise bike challenge at the England World Cup base camp 7 Dele poses with stunning model girlfriend Ruby Mae Credit: Instagram "I was hooked on vodka, beer — anything — for a few years. "Social Services visited me after complaints from my neighbours about how I was raising my children but my kids were never taken away. "It was my decision to let Dele live with another family. "I knew that was the only way he could fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer. "It was tough to give up my son but it proved to be his salvation. I’m so thankful for how things have turned out." England stars relaxed with Dele Alli and Kyle Walker play-fighting in training 7 Dele and Ruby share a kiss after England's victory over Colombia Credit: Splash News 7 The pair pose together during his launch of a spin-off clothing range from Boohoo Credit: Getty - Contributor Alli had a tough season for Tottenham last year, but still managed to prove he is a man to score big-game goals against top opponents, with goals against Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Liverpool last term. The man himself has claimed he has been loving being in Russia and starring for England. He told Sky Sports: "The tournament has been unbelievable even for Russia as well, they played great they were unfortunate to go out last night but I think they did their country proud. “But for us, it's all about the experience. We've been playing well, we're learning and we're all enjoying it. "We've seen the videos from back home and it seems like the country is really coming together so we're happy to have that influence."<doc-sep>
Did you ever hear about the time the teenage Dele Alli nutmegged Luka Modric? August 2015, to be precise, for Spurs in the Audi Cup at the Allianz Arena, Munich. Alli was 19, a £5m signing from Milton Keynes Dons thrown into the deep end against Real Madrid, and at least he was courteous enough not to ruffle Modric’s hair, Gazza-style, as he slipped the ball through his opponent’s legs. Modric, he recalls, collared him in the tunnel and called him a “little bugger”. Though the suspicion remains that he might have toned down the language. OK, in the grand scheme of things, it will not count for a lot, nearly three years on, when England meet Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday for a place in a World Cup final. All the same, there was something strangely reassuring, from an English perspective, to hear Alli regaling this story. “I always enjoy a good nutmeg,” was his take. Especially when the person who has just let the ball go through his legs is one of the world’s category-A footballers. To clarify, Alli was not being controversial here or disrespectful in the slightest. Indeed, he also made the point that if England were to win this semi-final a lot would depend on how they managed to deal with Modric’s intelligence on the ball. A nutmeg is a nutmeg. It is not a goal, or a game-defining moment, or a killer pass, or a Champions League medal (of which Modric has four). But it is a reminder, in its own small way, that Alli is not the kind of footballer to suffer any sense of inferiority complex. Another comes when he is asked if he the slightest bit nervous – “excited, not nervous,” he responds – and, again, when it is pointed out to him that he has a pretty impressive record when it comes to scoring on the big occasions. Since 2016, he has scored twice against Manchester United, twice against Manchester City, five times against Chelsea, once against Arsenal and once against Liverpool. Yet Alli wants to make a point of his own. “I score against other teams as well,” he says. England will need this confidence, one imagines, if they are to win their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, six years before Alli was even born, and then return to the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday to see off France or Belgium in the final. Yet it would be a mistake to think that Alli cannot assess himself with a critical eye, too, and by his own admission he is not entirely satisfied with his own World Cup performances. Gareth Southgate identified him for special acclaim after the opening win against Tunisia but that was also the match when the Tottenham Hotspur player damaged a thigh. Alli did not play again in the group stages. He returned for the Colombia game and, though he scored in the 2-0 win over Sweden, he sounded almost apologetic for the way he had performed in England’s quarter-final victory. “I said to my family afterwards that it was weird because I didn’t feel nervous or anything like that. I don’t really ever get nervous anyway. But you know sometimes that you can have games where your control isn’t as good as it should be, or your decision-making isn’t as sharp as normal. I felt like it was one of those games. I’ve spoken to the manager about it and some of my team-mates. I didn’t feel like I was playing as well as I should have been, especially in the first half. “Defensively, I did my job, and did what I needed to do, but I wanted to be on the ball, creating chances and being a threat. I felt like my movement was good but I just wasn’t sharp enough. I didn’t keep the ball as much as I should have. To score ... it gives you a lift. But I’m my own biggest critic. I know I can play better than that.” In keeping with a lot of Southgate’s players, Alli’s air of self-confidence is tinged with the humility that comes from starting in the lower leagues. Here, for example, he has been joking with Danny Welbeck about the night in 2014 when Milton Keynes Dons played Manchester United in the League Cup and won 4-0. The young Alli – to his embarrassment now – asked for Welbeck’s shirt that night and was politely turned down.