Alan Shearer Exclusive: England will beat Norway on path to World Cup final

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England can reach the World Cup final

The Azteca, where England beat Germany in the World Cup round of 32, was the best stadium I've ever been to. It was the best atmosphere I've ever been involved in. And it was probably the best away performance of an England team in my time. The occasion had everything.

We'd heard about the altitude and Mexico's record at the Azteca. Then we conceded after going 2-0 up, then we had a man sent off, then we had a penalty given against us. To come up against all of those things and then get over that hurdle was exceptional.

From the first minute to the last, everyone - the starting players, the subs and the manager, who was changing the system, bringing the subs on at the time - was exceptional. There's not many times you can say that. You might get five or six players who were brilliant, but to a man England were outstanding.

What added to it was how the Mexicans took the defeat. I don't know how many English fans were there but, after the game, the Mexicans were congratulating the England fans, and it was just so brilliant to be there.

That win gave me the belief and the hope that we've been looking for. 

Since the second half against Croatia, England were very bitty up until Mexico. There's always a performance in a tournament that makes you think: "Right, we could win this now." I still say France are favourites and I'm not changing my mind, but the performance against Mexico gave me great hope and belief that we can at least get to the final.

They're going into the Norway game on the back of a monumental result, a heroic performance. So that in itself should give them huge belief, huge confidence because as we all know, confidence in football is massive.

It will be tough going into Miami, and the heat, but it is for Norway too, it's not as if you're going in against a South American team. Norway are the same as us in terms of they won't be used to the heat. That gives everyone massive belief that we can get through to the next round.

England must repeat Mexico performance

I've been barking on all tournament about wide men going on the outside, but I thought that both Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka were brilliant at doing that the other night.

When he got the ball for the first time, Gordon went on the outside and from then on he had the defender on toast every time. Saka went on the outside when he dinked that beautiful ball across to Bellingham for the header. Our wingers were outstanding.

Gordon had his best game for England. For Norway, I would go again with Saka, Kane, Gordon and Bellingham in behind. That worked really, really well against Mexico. And I would just say to all of them, more of the same, please do exactly what you did against Mexico.

The manager will go with Rice and Anderson in the middle again and I would do the same. He also feels safer, I think, with Guehi and Konsa at centre-half, then O'Reilly at left-back, and Spence at right-back, with Pickford in goal.

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Alan Shearer's Norway v England prediction

The performance the other night was what everyone's been waiting for. It's given everyone belief that we can go forward and that we've got a team that can challenge. And with Tuchel's know-how and his knowledge it feels that we can actually do something special.

I'm not expecting England to go out. I've got real big confidence that England can beat Norway and get through to the semi-final.

If you said before the tournament we're going to have a World Cup quarter-final against Norway you would say: "Absolutely, thank you very much, give us it, let's get on with it let's hit it head on." I don't see any reason for us not to get to a semi-final.

It's not going to be easy, it'll be tough, and there'll be times where we'll have to suffer because they're a good team. But I go back to my point, if someone said before the tournament, you're going to be playing Norway in the quarter-final of the World Cup, you'd have snapped their hands off for that.

I'm going for a 2-1 win against Norway and I'm going for Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane to get our goals. 

I don't fear Norway

I am not worried about Norway on Saturday. They'll cause problems. They're a good team. They've got great team spirit. I love many things about them, but the biggest thing I love is how together they are, how brilliant their fans are, and the players respond to that. So, it'll be tough, but I wouldn't say I'm too worried because England have to play their own game.

If England play to the level they produced against Mexico, then I'll have a lot of confidence we can go through to the semi-final.

We can beat Norway on Saturday by imposing our own game on them, not letting them do what they want to do. As I've said, their togetherness is superb. Their will to win is amazing. They've got one absolute superstar in Haaland. But if you stop him, then you've got a good chance.

I know that's not going to be easy, but if you stop Haaland, you've got a brilliant chance of beating Norway.

Haaland is world's best number nine

Haaland to Norway is what Kane is to England. So, they'll be asking - how to stop Kane? They'll feel if they stop him, they've got a much better chance of winning and vice versa for England with Haaland. It's easier said than done. I used to go into games myself and I know that everyone was looking for me to score the goals, and I enjoyed and embraced it. These two strikers will as well.

You've got to hope that Haaland has an off day because there's not many players who can handle him. You've got to try and stop crosses going into the box, try and stop him at source, which means getting the ball into him. It's not just the centre halves that have got to stop him, but the other players who have got to stop the ball going into him.

In terms of a nine, Haaland is the best striker in the world. All the big hitters who are at the top of the scoring charts, they're all forwards, but they're all very different. Haaland is probably the most out and out number nine, best in the world.

Kane's not an out and out number nine, and Mbappé's not an out and out number nine, Messi's not an out and out number nine. But as a number nine, as an old traditional forward as we know it, Haaland is currently the best.

He's very different. It doesn't affect him if he's not involved in the game or he's not having any touches. But he could go 89 minutes without having a touch and then produce a killer finish.

Haaland and Kane would've been lethal combo

They would have been brilliant together, Leeds-born Haaland and Kane. They would be an amazing partnership because Kane would compliment Haaland by going deep and running in behind. Erling loves the fight and he loves the battle, he loves the scrap against the centre half.

You could see the other night, when he was getting pushed around by Gabriel for Brazil, how much Haaland loves the battle. That's what I admire about him. It would have been very interesting if he had chosen to play for England.

Pickford back to his best

Jordan Pickford was outstanding against Mexico. That save in the first few minutes from Raúl Jiménez was huge for him for his confidence because he'd not been his normal self in the first four games.

His saves and, equally as important, his coming for crosses, catching or punching later on in the game, were amazing. He played a major part in England winning in Mexico and it was much more like Jordan Pickford that we know.

Spence deserves to start

I don't know the situation with Reece James' hamstring, but it would be extremely harsh on Djed Spence if he didn't start against Norway. I mean, he's started left back, he's started right back, and he was brilliant when he came on at the Azteca, as were Dan Burn and John Stones.

It's amazing that we find ourselves before every game discussing who's going to be in the right back position. My guess is it will be Spence against Norway.

Tournament too far for Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a giant of the game who's broken all sorts of records. I love his dedication, his style of play and desire to keep going. But I said pre-tournament that how Roberto Martinez used Ronaldo would determine Portugal success in this World Cup.

Martinez only took Ronaldo off in one game and Goncalo Ramos came on and scored. But then Martinez didn't take Ronaldo off against Spain when they needed a goal. Martinez should have taken him off and he should have changed it and brought someone else on to play against the Spanish.

Ronaldo is 41. I wouldn't put it past him, but I'd be staggered if he were to still be playing in the national team in two years' time. You should get off the stage while people are shouting for more. And it did look as if this tournament might have been one too many for Ronaldo and Portugal.

I don't know what his plans are after he's retired. But I guess if he wants that Portugal manager's job in the future, then it would only be a matter of time before he was given it.

Newcastle signings are good start

Newcastle are targetting young hungry up-and-coming players for 30 to 40 million quid. I'm pleased that eventually Newcastle have started to move because it was getting a tad anxious after they sold Gordon and Sandro Tonali.

I'm hoping that if they can get Manzambi, Steur and Toure in, then that's not the only three that they will bring in.

Manzambi has had a really good World Cup. It was a shame he was injured against Colombia. But he looks a really good talent. I hope his price is not going up with every good game he has. 

Man Utd must sign players soon

Manchester United probably wanted to try and get their transfer business done pretty early. But for whatever reason that hasn't happened. They're always going to attract players but I don't know what's going on behind the scenes or why they haven't done any big business as of yet.

They must bring players in so I guess it's just a matter of time for them, and trying to negotiate the right deals, but because of who they are, then the prices are always going to go up. I am surprised that they haven't done much business yet.

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Now read about England's route to the World Cup Final

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