BOBBY MOORE was 22 years and 47 days old when he became England’s youngest captain.
Dele Alli — at just 19 — is already showing signs he can break the great man’s record.
Alli is a leader, showing class, composure and a competitive streak unrivalled in this England team.
The Spurs star already has all the qualities required for the role.
Why hold him back when all this kid wants to do is win?
Alli can handle it — that much is clear. He is a rare beast and Roy Hodgson will do well to find a better alternative to Wayne Rooney when the time comes to name a successor.
Alli will be first in the queue for the armband.
It has to be that way because the country’s head coach accepts the midfielder’s career is heading one way.
Hodgson said: “Against France he was man of the match and he was fantastic.
“You could argue that France at home is a little bit less daunting than Germany away.
“You can see that he has a very, very bright future.
“It’s up to him and his club and he has to make certain he doesn’t believe he is the complete and finished article.”
It is difficult to think of more rounded, polished players than Alli at the same age.
The great Duncan Edwards? Certainly. Paul Gascoigne? Certainly not.
Lothar Matthaus, Germany’s 1990 World Cup-winning captain, hailed Alli as the best player on the pitch in Berlin.
He showed maturity in a game that would be too hot to handle for most youngsters and he does not give an inch.
This is the same player who had the cheek to nutmeg Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Real Madrid.
Against world champions Germany, boasting Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Kroos in the centre of midfield, he was at it again.
He is now booked in for the Euros, rapidly making his way up Hodgson’s list of must-picks. Soon he will be at the very top.
To shrug off the reputations of Germany’s celebrated trio in midfield takes something special.
After this performance he can be forgiven for a glaring 83rd-minute miss when substitute Jamie Vardy pulled the ball back into his path.
Hodgson added: “You can’t be the complete and finished article at 19, not if we are talking about winning tournaments or doing well in major tournaments — you need more games.
“I’m not trying to detract from his performance. We thought he was excellent from the first minute to last and he was getting a lot of praise.
“I hope he enjoys it because it is truly deserved.”
So, too, were the many pats on the back for England’s players after a thrilling comeback in the magnificent Olympiastadion.
To recover from being two goals down after Kroos’ long-range strike and Mario Gomez’s header takes something special.
Whether Joachim Low’s team took their foot off the gas or not, Germany cannot accept a third successive defeat against England on home soil.
Hodgson loved it, barely able to keep a lid on his emotions when he conducted a mini- debrief with his coaching staff on the pitch at the final whistle.
He is entitled to feel pleased because England showed remarkable resourcefulness to win this prestige friendly.
When Alli hustled Germany’s defence to win a corner in the 61st minute, Harry Kane brought England back into the game with a ‘Cruyff’ turn and a shot beyond Manuel Neuer.
Then sub Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson, that man Alli and a surging right-wing run from Nathaniel Clyne combined to set up the leveller.
Vardy, who replaced the excellent Danny Welbeck, equalised with the cheekiest of flicks when he connected with Clyne’s cross.
It gave England momentum and they won it in the final minute when Eric Dier met Henderson’s corner to head beyond Neuer’s left hand.
This is a big win for England, the type of result that will flood the team with confidence before they face Holland tomorrow.
For Danny Rose, playing his first England game, to pin rent-a-quote Thomas Muller to the right touchline takes some doing.
Muller is a player of some pedigree but his loose talk about putting England away made him look a little foolish.
There is no time for idle chat now because Hodgson is picking a new team to face the Dutch.
He has promised plenty of changes, with John Stones, Danny Drinkwater and Daniel Sturridge all in the frame.
After this, they will have to come of age.
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