Shearer backs England to win World Cup after Mexico win
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- Alan Shearer says he has changed his mind and now backs England to win the World Cup, reversing his pre-tournament doubts after watching them defeat Mexico at the Azteca Stadium despite going down to 10 men and battling altitude and crowd intensity.
- Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham scored England's goals against Mexico, but Shearer highlighted that the rest of the squad also stepped up beyond the usual "big-hitters" — calling it a complete performance from every player on the pitch.
- Thomas Tuchel earned praise for his substitutions and tactical flexibility, with Shearer noting England do not have a fixed identity like Spain or Argentina but instead adapt their approach to whoever they face.
- Erling Haaland is the central threat in England's quarter-final against Norway in Miami, having scored twice — one header and one from outside the box — to eliminate Brazil, with Shearer arguing Gabriel's defending on the first goal was elite striker movement rather than poor center-back play.
- Shearer says Haaland cannot truly be stopped and that England must instead restrict his supply at source, dismissing the idea that Manchester City familiarity gives defenders Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly, or John Stones any edge over other opponents.
- Shearer frames the quarter-final as a potential Golden Boot shootout between Kane and Haaland, calling both world-class finishers with an identical "thirst for goals" — and hopes it is Kane who advances.
- John Stones pretended to be injured before breaking into a dance with teammates in the dressing room after the Mexico win, a moment Shearer cited as evidence of a squad togetherness he has never seen from an England side.
Why it matters: Shearer is England's all-time leading scorer and one of the most measured English football voices, so his conversion from skeptic to believer carries weight inside the squad. With a Norway quarter-final in Miami now looming and Haaland — who just bagged a brace to end Brazil — as the obvious matchup problem, England's tactical adaptability under Tuchel faces its toughest test yet.
