Dier and Kane Reflect on Bale’s Time with Tottenham

Leading up to Thursday’s England and Wales fixture, Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier and Harry Kane took some time to talk about one of Spurs’ best players, Gareth Bale.

With all eyes on the England versus Wales match-up, two of Tottenham’s current starters on Roy Hodgson’s squad reflect on Gareth Bale’s stay with the north London outfit from 2007 before he transferred to Real Madrid in 2013 for £86 million.

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Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker weren’t teammates with Gareth Bale (on the first team) when he first arrived back in 2007, though they were certainly along for the ride when he transformed from a left-back from Southampton’s vaunted youth academy into a winger and beginning his early stages into a world-class player.

The year was 2007, Kane was already in Tottenham’s youth academy and was able to interact with the Welshman but never play alongside him. Two months after Bale arrived in a £7 million move, Rose would switch from Leeds United. Then, in 2009, Walker joined from Sheffield United.

All three players enjoyed training and playing with Gareth Bale, but it was Kyle Walker who would be the only one out of Harry Kane and Danny Rose to play the most with the former shy footballer before he decided to play with one of world football’s most iconic clubs, Real Madrid.

Eric Dier, who joined Tottenham a year after Spurs had sold Bale, knew who he was despite never actually being there on the training pitch or bench during games.

“When I arrived at Tottenham, I knew what a legend Gareth was at the club. He had a fantastic time there,” Dier said (via London Evening Standard).

But more so than knowing what Bale did with his time in north London wearing Lily White, Eric Dier knows that playing alongside Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker should help give England any small advantage they can have leading up to their game against Wales.

"“I joined after Bale had left, but Kyle, Danny and Harry were at the club when he was there. It always gives you a little advantage if you train with someone every day, you’re going to know things about them that other people wouldn’t.”“Every little bit of knowledge helps when coming up against a top player like this, but he is one of the best in the world, so it will be tough regardless.”More from Hotspur HQStorybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s RicharlisonTottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivatedTottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield UnitedTottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield UnitedTottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help“I’m sure Spurs fans will take particular interest in this game because, obviously, we have five players [the fifth being Dele Alli] in the England squad and Wales have Gareth, as well as Ben Davies.”“Lots of Tottenham fans will be watching, even if they don’t support the two sides. It is a team sport, but we will see what we can do to stop Bale.”"

Harry Kane had plenty to say about Gareth Bale as well despite never actually playing with him. During Kane’s time in Tottenham, he was still a part of Spurs’ youth academy before going out on four separate loan spells.

By the time Kane had become a starter for Spurs during the 2014-15 campaign, Kane like Dier, would be on a team without Bale who had already left a year prior.

"“It will be strange because he was someone I looked up to as I came through Tottenham’s academy,” Harry Kane said.“I got to train and play with him for a few years as I was coming through and enjoyed learning things from him. He has since gone on to do fantastic things for club and country.”“But it is part of football to play against players you know and become friends with, so I will be looking forward to it. He is a great player, everyone knows that, but we have more than enough in our team to cope.”“Gareth is not the only threat we have to worry about. We will look at their strengths and weaknesses. We must make sure we cope with their threat and try to win the match.”“We have a great squad, are very confident in ourselves and should not worry too much about Bale and the rest of the Wales team.”"

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England have their work cut out for themselves after failing to close out the game against Russia. But for Harry Kane, the Three Lions and supporters must move on because heartbreaking draws or losses happen in football.

“It is very important we don’t feel sorry for ourselves,” Kane added. “In tournament football, you have to deal with these sort of things.”