A DREAM

World Cup qualifying: Lithuania v Dier’s chasing

ERIC DIER has it all planned out in his mind, the perfect dream.

It ends with Spurs winning the Premier League title and England doing something very special in next year’s World Cup in Russia. Tottenham are motoring along nicely but midfield anchorman Dier knows a vast improvement by the Three Lions is needed to complete his double. Club-mate Harry Kane’s late goal was one of just two highlights during Thursday’s win over a defensive Slovenia side and the Wembley fans let Gareth Southgate’s England know it. They amused themselves by seeing who could throw folded paper planes the furthest. The other highlight? The form of Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford.

Dier, 23, born in Cheltenham but raised from the age of seven in Portugal, accepts all of the criticism aimed at England. But that has not stopped him from dreaming about a perfect 2018. He said: “The dream is for both Spurs and England to do well. There is so much that can happen before the World Cup.

“You just never know what is going to happen.

“There is so much football to be played with Spurs and England and hopefully we can have a lot of success, both as individuals and as a team.

“The ultimate dream is success for both, that really is what I dream of, winning the Premier League and then going on to win something with England.

“It is something pretty special qualifying for World Cup finals. We are very happy to have qualified. It will be an amazing experience.

“It is very exciting because it is not just one of the biggest football events but a world sporting event as well. It is something I want to be part of.”

Dier is no fool. He knows England have been disappointing over the past few years but also accepts this is a new generation of players who are maturing. He is optimistic about the future.

England rarely have a problem qualifying for big tournaments but find it difficult to reproduce that form when they get there.

Dier added: “I don’t know really why this happens. I hope we can go there, give everything in every game and have no regrets at the end of it.

“We want to be happy with what we do. I think that is the most important thing.

“I want to go to the World Cup and try to win every game there. If I am lucky enough to go that will be my mentality and hopefully the rest of the team’s as well.”

Dier was aware of fan unrest at Wembley on Thursday, the paper plane thowing and the ground being nearly empty at the end.

But he said: “It doesn’t really bother me what they do. We had