Alan Shearer has predicted that England's World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico will be a tense affair that goes the distance, with the former England captain backing Thomas Tuchel's side to prevail on penalties.
Shearer's Prediction for England vs Mexico
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge facing England, who face a Mexico side that has won all four of their matches without conceding a goal. The game will be played at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where the altitude of 2,400 metres above sea level offers a significant home advantage.
Shearer said: 'Mexico have looked really good. I think they were really, really good against Ecuador in their last game. I think they overpowered them. It looked as if Ecuador didn't know what was coming and they hit them early and the game was pretty much over. And that's what England are going to have to be wary of because if they get in front, it'll be difficult to peg them back.'
England's Injury Concerns
England have not had a smooth run in the tournament, with injuries to key players causing disruption. Reece James is set to miss the match due to a hamstring strain, while Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been managed through the tournament. The Three Lions required a late brace from Harry Kane to secure a 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo in their previous match.
Despite these issues, Shearer believes England have the quality to overcome Mexico. He added: 'But when you look at some of the players that Mexico have got, you think, yeah, they're good, but as I keep going back to it is that the conditions might just even itself out. Well, they might not have as much ability as this England team, but we haven't seen the best of England as yet and let's hope that happens on Monday.'
Azteca Stadium Advantage
Mexico's record at the Azteca Stadium is formidable, with only two losses in many years. However, Shearer noted that the quality of opposition Mexico has faced at home has often been low. He said: 'They've only lost twice there in so many years in the Azteca. I get that. But if you look at the quality of the opposition that they've played, vast majority of time hasn't been great. I think England know they're going into a really tough game.'
Shearer added: 'They're going into a really tough environment with the conditions, with the environment. That levels everything up, I think. So, it's a tough one to call. Yeah, mentally, physically is going to be tough for England and they're going to have to be at their very, very best to get through, which we haven't seen yet. So, let's hope that they're saving their best for Mexico.'
Penalty Shootout Prediction
Shearer predicted that the match will go to extra time and penalties, with England emerging victorious. He said: 'I'm not going to predict England to be beaten. I think it could be a really long evening. I think this could be the first time England go to penalties, extra time and then penalties. So, I'm going to say it will be a very long night/morning for you guys back home. And I'm going to go England win on penalties.'
Shearer previously correctly predicted England's 2-1 win over DR Congo. He advised fans to prepare for a long watch, suggesting they gather in pubs to ease nerves. He said: 'If I was at home and not out in America, I would have arranged to be in a pub with my pals. I would be going super late in terms of 9 or 10 o'clock, having a couple of pints before kick-off just to ease the nerves. I would definitely be in a pub somewhere if I was back home with my pals.'
