Eric Dier, who captained us three times last season in domestic cup competitions, was handed the England armband for the first time in the Three Lions’ friendlies against Germany and Brazil at Wembley and put in two mature displays as both games ended 0-0.
Christian Eriksen, meanwhile, scored a sparkling hat-trick to send Denmark to the World Cup. His treble was influential as the Danes came back from a goal down to eventually win 5-1 against Republic of Ireland in their play-off second leg in Dublin on Tuesday night, the first leg in Copenhagen having ended in a tense stalemate just days earlier.