The International break is upon us and it would be the first time that Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Dele Alli will be seeing his England teammates since the World Cup.
England has a positive run in the tournament, getting to the Semi-Finals before losing to both Croatia and Belgium before departing from the tournament in fourth place.
They had the goodwill of the people as they played as a unit and united the country for the first time in ages for a World Cup.
Dele Alli it will be recalled was injured in the very first game and there was fear that the midfielder would be unable to continue with the World Cup, but he came back within a couple of weeks and was instrumental in England’s run to the Semi-Finals.
What many don’t know is that there might have been a goodluck charm involved in his quick recovery. Alli narrated how he took the 45-minute journey into Russia’s second city for a scan which would determine his fate.
“As I got out, the taxi driver gave me a bracelet and said it was good luck,” he said.
READ: Ekong confident Eagles will qualify for 2019 AFCON
Subsequently, he was told that there was no tear in his thigh and while he missed two games, he was back for the rest of England’s games.
He’s not sure, but he feels that perhaps the good luck charm was involved in his speedy recovery
“So I’ve kept it,” he says. “I don’t wear it but I keep it in my washbag.”
This isn’t the only superstitious material Dele Alli keeps on him as he also has a small piece of tape placed on his left knee unrelated to any injury; and he wears the same shinpads since he was 11.
He also revealed that he takes an eight-minute ice-bath on the eve of a game.