Alan Shearer has disclosed his preferred England squad for Euro 2024, should he be the manager.
The current England team, led by Gareth Southgate, is set to depart for Germany on Monday in preparation for their Euro opener against Serbia on Sunday.
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Following their initial match at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia, England will face Denmark and Slovenia in the group stages.
Shearer, reflecting on England’s 58-year wait for a major men’s football trophy, expresses confidence in the team’s prospects at the Euros, calling it ‘our best chance for a long time’.
Despite the setback of a penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, Southgate’s squad includes some of the finest talents globally, with Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham expected to play pivotal roles.
Southgate is confronted with challenging choices, particularly in defense due to Harry Maguire’s injury and Luke Shaw’s uncertain fitness.
The selection dilemma extends to deciding which forwards to exclude and determining the positions for Foden and Bellingham.
Shearer, with his own illustrious record of 30 goals in 63 caps for England, has outlined his team selection for Germany.
His lineup features Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier in defense and a formidable attacking trio of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon, with Foden operating as the playmaker.
Explaining why he would pick Guehi & Trippier, Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘Harry Maguire’s going to be a big miss, at both ends of the pitch. I would go with Guehi but it’s a big concern for England, the defence.
‘Luke Shaw is the only alternative to Trippier but he’s a gamble given his fitness. I would go with Trippier. He hasn’t had as good as a season as he did the previous one but with his experience I would trust him in that position.’
On Foden’s role in his England team, Shearer added: ‘I’m playing him just in front of Bellingham and [Declan] Rice, he has to be in that position because he affects the game so much.
‘He wants to get on the ball, he’s brilliant on the ball and he’s got better and better this season. He’s been absolutely magnificent and I really hope he plays in that 10 position rather than on the left-hand side because that’s his best position.’
Under Southgate’s leadership, England not only reached the Euro 2020 final but also made it to the latter stages of the previous two World Cups, exiting in the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarters in 2022.
Despite a 58-year trophy drought, Shearer urges England fans to be ‘really, really excited’ for Euro 2024, emphasizing that the team should not fear any opponent.
As one of the favorites, England faces stiff competition from World Cup runners-up France, host nation Germany, and three-time champions Spain, all of whom are anticipated to vie for the title.
‘I think we should be super excited about this team,’ Shearer said. ‘The front half of that team is incredible, there’s so much talent in that team.
‘We should be really, really excited. They can win this tournament, no doubt about that. I think it’s important we go for it because we shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. This is our best chance for a long, long time.’
