Watch: Alan Shearer's passionate reaction to England's draw as he questions Newcastle man's absence

 · June 21 2024, 10:30
Watch: Alan Shearer's passionate reaction to England's draw as he questions Newcastle man's absence
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It's the morning after the night before and I thought I'd have calmed down after watching another soulless England performance under Gareth Southgate but the man has found more ways to annoy me.

After the game last night frustrations were running high amongst the England fans and even the BBC pundits were worked up about the lacklustre showing by the entire team.

Harry Kane came in for a lot of criticism by Gary Lineker in the studio for not pressing high enough. Sky Sports showed the England players' average positions for 15 minutes after Kane's opener and Bukayo Saka was England's furthest player forward and even he didn't make it beyond the tip of the centre circle in our own half.

Speaking after the game, Newcastle United hero Alan Shearer reiterated a point he made in commentary about how he was able to play on when he lost the legs to run behind defenders like Harry Kane.

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Alan Shearer relied on quicker players to do his running

“When I got into my 30s and I’d lost a yard of pace, I needed legs around me, I needed pace around me.

“I could still hold the ball up, I could still head it, I had a good touch, I could still score goals but the one thing I constantly couldn’t do is run in behind.

"Harry Kane is the same now, he needs players in and around him that do that. That's why I would have Anthony Gordon in the team because he has the energy and the ability to run in behind and get up near [Kane].

“When Foden is doing that, he wants to be tight and be in the 10 role very much like Harry Kane does. He’s a brilliant goalscorer, he’ll always score goals but he lacks that yard and he lacks that energy, someone else can do it alongside him.”
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Gareth Southgate can't get over Kalvin Phillips

England struggled to break the Danish back line, with Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon watching on from the bench wondering what they've got to do to get on the pitch.

One of Gareth Southgate's amazing excuses that they haven't found a way to replace Kalvin Phillips in the side, something that didn't fly with Ian Wright on ITV Sport.

Here's a suggestion then, Gareth: Play to the strengths of the players you've picked instead of trying to force them into an outdated system that was built around players you no longer have.

Is it just me?

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