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Dele Alli with his England team-mates.

Dele Alli not guaranteed to start at World Cup

The Tottenham star could face a tough fight to earn a place in England’s line-up when they meet Tunisia on 18 June.

ENGLAND MANAGER GARETH Southgate will offer Tottenham’s Dele Alli no guarantees of a place in the starting XI at the World Cup.

The attacking midfielder came on in the 68th minute of England’s 1-0 win over Netherlands last week and was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Italy at Wembley on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old had quickly established himself as a regular for the national team after bursting onto the scene with Spurs in the 2015-16 season.

But Alli is set to face fierce competition for a role when England take on Tunisia, Panama and Belgium in Russia.

I have a problem because I have Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jamie Vardy, so there is a huge choice,” Southgate said.

“I don’t foresee a scenario where any of those players don’t come to Russia but I have to make those decisions.

“There is no reason he [Alli] will not come and he can make a huge impact there. He has the ability and I am looking forward to seeing him over the next few weeks.”

With Kane injured, Sterling started both friendlies in a central attacking role, and Southgate was encouraged by the versatility of the Manchester City forward.

He said: “It was nice to see because if we play 3-4-3 we know Raheem can play the number 10 role, as he did against France last year, but could he play as one of two forwards when he usually plays on the wing for Manchester City?

We know he likes playing through the middle and his performance reminded me of that little spell at Liverpool where he was behind Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, running and dribbling through the middle of the park.”

Despite the recent prominence afforded to Sterling, Southgate made it clear that Alli will not be easily discarded.

“We want competition for places but there was no ulterior motive to leaving him out,” the manager said.

“We wanted to look at Raheem again but Dele is still an important player for us. He is in the mix.”

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    Mute David Toke
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    May 12th 2018, 3:57 PM

    Good luck to Leinster today from a Munster man

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    Mute Porter Paddy
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    May 12th 2018, 4:13 PM

    @David Toke: Go luck to Leinster today from a man.

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    May 12th 2018, 4:37 PM

    @Porter Paddy: good luck to leinster ill be getting my dinner soon

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    Mute Sportszone26
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    May 12th 2018, 4:53 PM

    @David Toke: leinster vs racing 92 LINK===> http://bit.ly/2jSQwam

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    Mute Tom49
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    May 12th 2018, 5:04 PM

    @David Toke: good luck to Donnacha today from a Tipperary man

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    Mute Marko Polo
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    May 12th 2018, 5:31 PM

    @David Toke: Fack off.

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    Mute David Toke
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    May 12th 2018, 6:37 PM

    @Marko Polo: Marko fack u :-)

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    Mute David Toke
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    May 12th 2018, 8:40 PM

    @Martin Quinn: go luck where Martin lol

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    Mute Ciara Baines
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    May 12th 2018, 3:59 PM

    C’mon Leinster! Nerves kicking in now. Great news for us (not Carter) that he’s been ruled out. Could have made a big difference off the bench.

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    May 12th 2018, 3:55 PM

    Can’t wait to see the two Ryans lock horns.

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    Mute Linda Oreilly
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    May 12th 2018, 5:18 PM

    Dreadful to watch so far

    31
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    Mute munsterman
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    May 12th 2018, 4:37 PM

    Have a feeling donnacha will sort out the ladyboys today..

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 12th 2018, 5:35 PM

    @munsterman: how anyone who supports a team with Zebo and Murray can call anyone else ladyboys is beyond me.

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    Mute William Finnegan
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    May 12th 2018, 6:39 PM

    @munsterman: na he sorted the ladyboys out a few weeks ago

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    Mute Pseud O'Nym
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    May 12th 2018, 6:48 PM

    @munsterman: Ha ha ha, suck it up, lad…

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    May 12th 2018, 5:29 PM

    jp doyle has been so annoying. let the game flow. always in barnes ear. let him referee

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 12th 2018, 5:36 PM

    Am I the only one thinking Barnes and his team having a good game?

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    Mute Parnells Eighty-Seven
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    May 12th 2018, 5:38 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: yes!

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    Mute reg gordon
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    May 12th 2018, 5:39 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are attempting humour
    Shocking reffing

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    Mute Jonathan Byrne
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    May 12th 2018, 5:41 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: yes you are, he might as well be wearing a racing 92 jersey,

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 12th 2018, 5:41 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: I thought they have been spot on. Fair too.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 12th 2018, 5:52 PM

    Not up for Racing at all and screaming for Leinster all the way. I was expecting a Barnes shitshow but they’ve been decent for me. Very consistent and doing lots of talking which helps the players. Nakawara could’ve got a yellow but I hate seeing big games decided by tame yellow cards and Leinster weren’t going to score. Can’t think of any other calls they’ve gotten wrong

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 12th 2018, 8:53 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Yeah he definitely let lots go at ruck time but he was consistent in his interpretations. As per the chatting I think we just heard it more than you normally wood because it was being broadcast. For me it’s a good thing if they’re involved. The ref can only see so much and there were a few times they weighed in on what was happening in the scrums when Barnes couldn’t see.

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    May 12th 2018, 10:51 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: bad.

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    May 12th 2018, 10:52 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: bad. if there are another two people who think they are the main referee how will the game flow

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 12th 2018, 10:59 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: The best referee’s make use of their team combined with their own judgement especially when they have a better angle. Look at the disallowed try for Gloucester last night. The tj was much better placed to make a call but the referee immediately blew it up. I’d have issue if the tj’s were butting in with bad calls but they weren’t.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    May 12th 2018, 5:33 PM

    ugh… Barnes. wrong choice for a final.

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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    May 12th 2018, 4:03 PM

    My nerves are at me.

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    Mute Gareth Keenan
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    May 12th 2018, 5:35 PM

    Poor match so far

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    Mute Conor
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    May 12th 2018, 4:18 PM

    Leinster by 15-20 too good for racing imo

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    Mute Paddy
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    May 12th 2018, 5:25 PM

    @Conor: Leinster starting very slowly making alot of mistakes I hope your right but racing don’t look like they have been rattled not once yet.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 12th 2018, 5:13 PM

    Leinster will be happy to have got through the first 20 without Racing doing any serious damage. Key for Racing was to get a hot start with some points on the board. They’re not as effective as the game goes on while the Leinster machine will keep chugging away till the final whistle

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    May 12th 2018, 4:09 PM

    Come on Leinster Every one of the Leinster players will be legends if they bring that trophy back here

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    Mute Les Wynan
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    May 12th 2018, 4:58 PM

    Machenaud, Lambie, Carter and possibly Vakatawa. How much luck do Leinster need

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    Mute William Finnegan
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    May 12th 2018, 5:32 PM

    Barnes is effing useless

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    Mute Kevin50
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    May 12th 2018, 6:44 PM

    Don’t care if it wasn’t champagne rugby, the best kind of final, intense pressure, 2 teams not giving an inch, congratulations to Leinster and sincerest commiserations to Racing for a tremendous display

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    Mute Now or Never
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    May 12th 2018, 6:39 PM

    Woeful game, but congrats Leinster!

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 12th 2018, 4:04 PM

    Hasn’t even started and it already feels like squeaky bum time

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    Mute Ben Sheridan
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    May 12th 2018, 6:04 PM

    I think Leinster could be ahead if they had gone with Lowe on the wing, Isa is having a mare

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    Mute Bluepoolroad
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    May 12th 2018, 6:26 PM

    @Ben Sheridan: Sounds so easy….

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    Mute Bluepoolroad
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    May 12th 2018, 6:29 PM

    @Ben Sheridan: Then he steps up and equalises

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    Mute Ben Sheridan
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    May 12th 2018, 6:35 PM

    @Ben Sheridan: it’s seriously tense, that’s why I think Lowes attitude would thrive in this

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 12th 2018, 6:35 PM

    Thank you Teddy Thomas. You owed us Irish one after the Six Nations and Munster matches

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    Mute Conor HF
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    May 12th 2018, 6:27 PM

    referring has been atrocious but Leinster really have not done themselves any favours.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 12th 2018, 6:38 PM

    Jesus Christ that was tense felt like a repeat of Ireland France.

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    Mute Gooney
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    May 12th 2018, 4:20 PM

    CMon Leinster!!!

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    Mute Brian Moore
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    May 12th 2018, 4:08 PM

    Any links to watch the match?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 12th 2018, 4:19 PM

    @Brian Moore: try Cricfree that usually works.

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    Mute Andrew Hurley
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    May 12th 2018, 4:46 PM

    @Brian Moore: Legally on the France2 website. No bulles*t hype either https://www.france.tv/france-2/direct.html

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    Mute Conor Walsh
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    May 12th 2018, 4:54 PM

    @Brian Moore: https://youtu.be/TDb9KlJkhUU
    That’s a YouTube link, great quality. This channel always streams the big rugby and football games so I’d recommend subscribing too.

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    Mute Bluepoolroad
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    May 12th 2018, 5:46 PM

    It’s going to be very hard to break Racing down. It’s 50/50 at this stage. One mistake and Thomas is away. Need some magic from Sexton. They seem to match us everywhere else.

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    Mute Marian Lee Lynch
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    May 12th 2018, 6:42 PM

    It’s a terrible disgrace the game wasn’t on any irish TV channel.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 12th 2018, 6:44 PM

    @Marian Lee Lynch: why would it be? Sky and BT have the rights to it and it was never guaranteed that an Irish team would be in the final.

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    May 12th 2018, 6:45 PM

    @Marian Lee Lynch: hardly a disgrace when tv rights are done years ago for big bucks. if no irish team were in it would it be a disgrace?

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    Mute GeorgeMallory
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    May 12th 2018, 6:47 PM

    Poor game but well done Leinster.

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    Mute Dave Fingleton
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    May 12th 2018, 4:10 PM

    Need a bib…salivating at the prospect of this

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    Mute Kenneth Hayden
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    May 12th 2018, 6:44 PM

    No links..
    Following the Journal for every move….
    Priceless for once.
    Time to chill and enjoy the beers.

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    Mute Brian Rochford
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    May 12th 2018, 6:52 PM

    Loving Lowes reaction. Hope he is selected next week

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    Mute Dave Fingleton
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    May 12th 2018, 6:51 PM

    What does it matter..workmanlike victory..no fireworks…best team in Europe..no question..

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    Mute FOX(sports)Free Live
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    May 12th 2018, 4:28 PM

    vchjugju

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    Mute William Finnegan
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    May 12th 2018, 4:32 PM

    @FOX(sports)Free Live: is that the new Fijian playing for Racing

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    Mute Brian Rochford
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    May 12th 2018, 6:49 PM

    Worst game i ever watched. Will take me a while to realise we wpn it. But holy crap 4 stars on the shirt next season. …

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    Mute Bluepoolroad
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    May 12th 2018, 6:36 PM

    Who’s complaining now about Barnes? Or Isa?

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    Mute Sportszone26
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    May 12th 2018, 4:34 PM

    RUGBY LINK===> http://bit.ly/2jSQwam

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    Mute Sportszone26
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    May 12th 2018, 4:35 PM

    RUGBY LINK===> https://t.co/fxldK6VwA2

    RUGBY LINK===> https://t.co/fxldK6VwA2

    1
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