Alan Shearer has made a bold prediction for England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway, forecasting a 2-1 victory with goals from Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon. The former England striker, speaking to Betfair, expressed confidence in Thomas Tuchel's side despite the threat posed by Norway's Erling Haaland, who has scored seven times in the tournament.
Shearer's Confidence in England
Shearer believes England's performance in their 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca has instilled belief in the team. 'I think the performance the other night was what everyone’s been waiting for,' he said. 'And I think that’s given everyone belief that we can go forward and that we’ve got a team.'
He added: 'With Tuchel’s know-how and his knowledge it feels that we can actually do something special. I’m not thinking that England are going out. I’ve got real big confidence that England can get through to the semi-final and beat Norway.'
Key Battle: Haaland vs Kane
The Newcastle legend emphasized the importance of handling Haaland, comparing him to Kane. 'That’s the big question on Saturday; how do we nullify Haaland. I mean, Haaland to Norway is what Kane is to England. So, they’ll be asking the same question. How did they stop Harry Kane? Because they’ll feel if they stop him, they’ve got a much better chance of winning and vice versa with Haaland. It’s easier said than done.'
Shearer is backing Kane and Gordon to get on the scoresheet, saying: 'I’m going for a 2-1 win against Norway and I’m going for Anthony Gordon and I’m going for Harry Kane to get our goals.'
Injury Concerns for England
England are monitoring the fitness of Reece James, who has been out with a hamstring problem since the second group game against Ghana. A start on Saturday seems unlikely, with Djed Spence expected to feature at right-back, but James may be fit to play a role.
Shearer's Semi-Final Predictions
Shearer also predicted the other quarter-finals, backing France, Spain, and Argentina to join England in the last four. 'So, I’m going for a Spain v France semi-final and an England v Argentina semi-final,' he said. 'Two unbelievable semi-finals. But I think I’m right in saying, that pre-draw, the top four in the world are seeded if they win the top of the group. And the first time they could have met would have been the semi-final. And that’s what may happen.'
