Alan Shearer shares his thoughts on where Gareth Southgate and England go from here…


 
 
 
 
 
 

Alan Shearer has been asked for his views on the issues with the England team.

Never the most dynamic of managers, Gareth Southgate going for very negative tactics in all three group games.

Whilst when it came to team selections, going with his usual favourites and despite poor performances, the same team starting both the opening two games, whilst only Gallagher for Alexander-Arnold in the third and final group match.

Alan Shearer looking at the issues for Gareth Southgate, who surely needs a different team selection and tactics if England are going to stand a chance of doing anything in the knockout stages.

Alan Shearer speaking to BBC Sport – 26 June 2024:

‘England can only go one way from here. We can only get better.

We have to because what we have seen up until now at these Euros will not be good enough for us to go the distance like when we reached the final last time.’

‘Let’s be honest. While we are unbeaten, we have conceded only one goal and have won our group to reach the last 16, the way we have done it has been completely uninspiring.

We had the dream draw but we have scored two goals in three games against really poor opposition and did not give any of the teams we faced very much to worry about.

Knockout football is totally different, but none of the teams that we could end up playing next will fear us based on what we have done in Germany…’

‘One of the most concerning things about watching England is that I don’t see a pattern of play when we bring the ball forward. I just see us struggling to find one.’

Alan Shearer on the subs showing something different once getting their belated chance in Slovenia match:

It is difficult to judge players properly when they come on late in a game, but Cole Palmer did well against Slovenia, and England looked more of a threat.

It was the same with Anthony Gordon, who had a couple of runs down the left. With him on the pitch, we probably looked more dangerous down that flank in the final five minutes as we did in the rest of the three games combined.

The move right at the end that started with Jude Bellingham and Gordon on the left and ended with Palmer’s shot being saved was probably the best thing England did all night.

It was the only time at these Euros that I saw us move the ball from left to right with pace, and it caused the opposition problems.

We need to see much more of that. Palmer and Gordon could be the key to providing the spark and energy we have been badly missing.

That is what gives me the most hope because there has not been very much else to get excited about.

Palmer and Gordon have given Gareth Southgate something massive to think about – and he has got some huge decisions to make.

One tiny positive from our tournament is the side of the draw we are now on – avoiding Spain, France, Portugal and Germany has done us a huge favour – but I’m not sure we can go into any game right now feeling confident about winning.

Normally I would say that our tournament starts here, but I do not really know what to expect in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, whoever we end up facing.’