Eric Dier has told Tottenham Hotspur and England teammate Dele Alli that he "will have to get used to" the criticism aimed in his direction.
Alli's scoring stats dropped at club level this term, netting nine times compared to 18 in 2016-17, while also assisting three goals fewer.
The 22-year-old's temperament has also been called into question, but Dier believes that Alli deserves to be in England's 23-man squad for the World Cup and has backed his close friend to become an ever better player.
"That is the world we live in, whether it's fair or not. I don't think [it is fair], but that's the world he is going to live in for a long time so he will have to get used to it," he told Sky Sports News.
"He is always going to be someone that is going to divide opinion and I think he is comfortable with that. He's very comfortable with who he is and I think he should be - he is a fantastic young boy and a great player.
"He can be an even better player, he can improve in everything and I think he knows that but I think he can be very proud of what he is at the moment and hopefully continue to improve on and off the field, like all of us can."
Alli is in line to make his 24th senior appearance for England in Saturday's pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria.
Daniel Lewis
