Alan Shearer says he has changed his mind: England might actually win this World Cup. The former striker, speaking after England's epic win over Mexico in the Azteca Stadium, admitted he had not truly believed before the game that the team could go all the way. Now he does.
"From the fans to the players, that's what everyone must be thinking after England's epic win over Mexico – I know I am – when I genuinely didn't feel that was the case before the game," Shearer told BBC Sport. "There was hope, of course. There's always hope with England at a major tournament, but that performance has pushed us all further forward and given everyone, including me, confidence and belief too."
“Alan Shearer says England's World Cup win over Mexico has convinced him they can win the tournament.”
Shearer, now 55 and a pundit, described the quarter-final performance as the best team display he has seen from any England side in his lifetime, particularly away from home. England won the match despite facing altitude, a hostile atmosphere, and playing for a period with 10 men. Shearer highlighted the togetherness and team spirit as unmatched in his experience.
"Every single player who stepped on that pitch at the Azteca played their part, and Thomas Tuchel did too with his substitutions and how well they worked," he said. "It was an absolute pleasure to be there to watch it, because it was pretty much complete, with what they had to go through."
Shearer drew a parallel with his own playing days at Euro '96, when England's 4-1 win over the Netherlands at Wembley made him feel "unstoppable", only for the team to fall on penalties in the semi-finals. Thirty years on, he believes this England side are capable of going at least one step further.
While stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham again delivered goals, Shearer insisted the supporting cast stepped up. He noted the dressing-room celebrations, including John Stones pretending to be injured before dancing. The question now is whether England can sustain that belief through the remaining rounds.