Dele Alli in action for Everton back in 2022 (©David Berding/Getty Images)
Dele Alli in action for Everton back in 2022 (©David Berding/Getty Images)

That's the spirit! Dele reveals he has a daily reminder to keep working for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 16.04.24. | 19:18

Alli, 28, has been out of action for months or maybe even years now...

He had the world at his feet, made a WC semi-final and the UCL final and won the Player of the Year award twice before his life (and eventually career) took a terrible U-turn.

However, if there's one thing that promises Dele Alli's story is yet to become a fairytale, it's the fact he's not blaming anyone or anything else for the demons that have been grabbing him. He keeps his head down and is getting ready for one last dance.

Having spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas, Alli returned to England in April 2023 due to a hip injury. Subsequently, he faced another setback towards the end of the year, leading to a groin surgery. Since then, he hasn't made a single appearance for the Toffees, but it doesn't prevent him from dreaming. Or planning...

"I have a reminder on my phone. I have a reminder at 11 am every day saying: World Cup 2026. So that's my aim for now. I think people will be like, 'Oh, he hasn't played in a year,' but I don't care. I know where my level is," Alli said while talking to Sky Sports.

He added that the WC remains his new target despite the injury. His idea is to take it day by day and make sure he's in the best condition for the start of the next season.

"It's annoying because I'll be just fully training as the season is ending. It's annoying because, as a player, when you get close, you want to push yourself, and I think that's maybe what happened the first time."

"I got too close and was like I'm there, let me just push it. I want to push on and push on and show that I'm there. Sometimes, you just need to relax and be like okay, let's not rush this."



tags

EvertonDele AlliEnglandFIFA World Cup

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