Alan Shearer has called on England’s wide players to add greater variety to their game if the Three Lions are to strengthen their hopes of winning the World Cup this summer.
England face DR Congo in the last 32 on Wednesday, aiming to carry momentum into the knockout stage after finishing at the top of their group.
Thomas Tuchel’s team have not escaped scrutiny, though, with questions raised over their attacking fluency after they found it difficult to carve out clear chances against Ghana and Panama.
DR Congo are expected to pose a familiar kind of challenge, likely defending deep and looking to break quickly on the counter — an approach that helped them earn a 1-1 draw with Portugal during the group stage.
That has placed renewed attention on England’s options out wide, with Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford all under the spotlight for their ability to unlock compact defences.
Shearer, the former England captain and a Betfair ambassador, believes Tuchel should keep faith with Rashford and Saka in his starting XI, but warned that both must be less predictable in possession if England are to find a way through DR Congo’s back line.
Alan Shearer has urged Thomas Tuchel to stick with Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford for England’s clash with DR Congo
The former England captain also said England’s wingers need to bring more unpredictability to their play
Shearer called on the pair to challenge defenders both ways to help them break down DR Congo
SHEARER ON PLAYERS CALLING OUT PUNDITS
As part of Betfair’s Hot Take Hotline, Shearer was asked for his view on players calling out fans and pundits for their views.
‘I think when you’re an international player you have to accept you are going to be criticised at some stage and you also just have to get on with it,’ Shearer responded.
‘Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
‘They have done that for years and years and that will continue forever.
‘It is part of football being on television you have to understand that and accept that, particularly at international level.’
‘There’s more to come from all of our wingers, whether that’s Saka, Madueke, whether that’s Rashford, Gordon. We haven’t seen the best of what they can do yet,’ Shearer said.
‘I know it’s difficult because when teams sit deep, there’s not a lot of space to run into. But the best finds a way, the best keep crossing the ball, whether that’s going on the outside or crossing it from the inside. We definitely need more from our wide men, all four of them.
‘In an ideal world, if he’s fit, then I would start Bukayo Saka and I would start Marcus Rashford.
‘I think Rashford, certainly in the first ten or fifteen minutes in the game the other day, he showed promise. But too many times, cutting inside and whipping it rather than Gordon going on the outside.
‘You have to change your game up. But I would still go with Rashford on the left and Saka on the right.
‘I think Rashford can do a bit of both and so can Saka. Saka can go on the outside, Rashford can go on the outside. They’ve also got the freedom to go inside and have a shot or goal like Rashford did in the first ten minutes where he had a shot and the keeper made a decent save from that.
‘So, they have to mix their game up. They have to do a bit of everything. I just thought they were predictable the other day.
Shearer’s comments come after Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled to break down Ghana and Panama
England will look to overcome a DR Congo side that defended impressively in a group stage draw with Portugal
‘Too many times, I thought they cut inside and just were happy to whip that ball in and no one was getting on the end of it. So, I don’t mind them coming inside now and again, but they also have to go on the outside as well to mix things up.
‘It was very similar against Ghana, just very samey, wasn’t it? Too slow, too predictable, too safe. So, I’m hoping that they can play with a little bit more freedom and a little bit more risk.’
England know victory over DR Congo would set up a last-16 tie against tournament co-hosts Mexico.
Mexico advanced on Tuesday after winning 2-0 against Ecuador at the Azteca, where the last-16 tie would also be played.
Alan Shearer was speaking ahead of England’s round of 32 game vs DR Congo, everyone’s got an opinion, back yours at Betfair.
