England stumbled past Malta at Wembley with Euro 2024 qualification already secured. It’s not a player on the field that everybody is talking about, it’s commentator Dion Dublin.
Many expected England to ease past their opponents, like they have done so many times before in qualification games. Malta though proved they were no pushover as they attacked England from the start. It was in fact Malta who almost scored within a minute, an early warning for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Despite their positive start, England did manage to take the lead. Malta defender, Enrico Pepe, turned the ball into his own net.
The major talking point in the first half was the referees decision to book Harry Kane rather than give a penalty. The official decided Kane had dived and had not been brought down by the goalkeeper.
Kane did get his customary goal in the second half. The Bundesliga man tapped home the ball to make it 2-0.
England had another goal ruled out for offside and the game limped to the end with England not showing their glittery best throughout.
With the game not being the most thrilling, it was commentator Dublin that caught the attention of those watching the game on Channel 4.
Who is Dion Dublin?
Dublin was a professional footballer between 1988 and 2008, playing in the Premier League for clubs such as Manchester United, Coventry City, and Aston Villa. He also spent time with Celtic and played in the Football League.
While a player, he did play four times for England but found playing time hard to come by given the quality of strikers available to England at the time.
Dublin retired at Norwich City in 2008, the club he started is career at 20 years before. He finished his career with an impressive 111 Premier League goals.
Dion Dublin 92-04. 111 premier league goals in 312 games. 45 headed goals (3rd best). Beast. #Ccfc #mufc #avfc pic.twitter.com/8hZmSuuuoV
— PremierLeague Greats (@PL_Greatest) February 22, 2016
Now retired, he does punditry and commentary for Sky and the BBC. Dublin’s now a part of the Channel 4 team that does commentary on the England games.
Outside of football, he has gained more fame for his presenting role on the BBC show, Homes Under The Hammer.
What has social media said about Dublin?
Dublin is one of the great characters in the football world and as you’d expect, some fans like him, some don’t.
Tonight, with the game being so poor, Dublin took centre stage and delivered some great lines that got lots of people talking on social media.
Here are some of our favourites from X (formerly Twitter):
The commentary’s died so I don’t have to listen to Dion Dublin #ENGMAL pic.twitter.com/SqgszDDe1i
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) November 17, 2023
Dion Dublin explaining how to play Two Touch has been my highlight of the night
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) November 17, 2023
Best performance tonight? The bloke that pulled the plug on Dion Dublin…#ENGMAL
— Ben Murray (@rubym83) November 17, 2023
Dion Dublin: ‘It’s an easy finish for Rice, it really is, a cultured finish, not an easy finish at all’ pic.twitter.com/pivAb7cDgp
— Scott Innes (@Flying_Inside) November 17, 2023
Every time I hear Dion Dublin on commentary @NoContextKeaneo pic.twitter.com/htz6nC66Qq
— Daniel Earley (@DanielEarley) November 17, 2023
So glad dion Dublin explained what two touch was…. #engvsmal pic.twitter.com/uWhGBYOZa0
— Dave Chall (@theboychalloner) November 17, 2023
#ENGMAL
England awful
Officials awful
VAR awfulAnd to top it off, I’m having to listen to Dion Dublin talk absolute nonsense.
— Shaun (@aryan86) November 17, 2023
Dion Dublin’s co commentary tonight is the perfect argument against ex players having any role in being the saviours of VAR.
Ignore any and all reference to the Laws of the Game and just let’s go with what feels good – be that a “clever” dive, an offside…whatever. #ENGMAL
— Bill King (@kingwgd) November 17, 2023
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