Harry Kane is the best England striker to play the game
I would say Harry Kane is England's best ever striker. You have to say that. I know the arguments will be Bobby Charlton and all of that, and I totally get it and understand that.
Harry's goals record and the standard that he's set, he's a proper goal scorer, a proper centre forward and has produced for England in big moments. Hopefully, those big moments are not going to be the last ones because I said pre-tournament, if England are going to go far, Harry's going to have to be in and around the golden boot and he is. Those two goals the other night just perfectly summed him up.
The second one was a thing of beauty. Just the way he bought himself time, moved it into the space, didn't even have to look because he knew exactly where he was. I think it was just classic, brilliant centre-forward play. Everything about it was just first class. It was amazing to be there, amazing to see it.
I've tried to do that, and I've looked at what he sort of did, and the way he swivels and everything else. It was just, as I said, a thing of beauty to be there and see him do it.
Still waiting for other England players to step up away from Kane and Bellingham
I'm still waiting for other England players to step up during this tournament. Without doubt, Harry has stepped up, Jude Bellingham has stepped up, Elliot Anderson as well.
But we're still waiting for others to step up as well, and they're going to have to because we can't keep on going the way we are. There has to be a gear change at some stage. We've seen France do it, we've seen Argentina, we've seen Brazil, we've seen Spain. So, yeah, other players are going to have to step up if England are going to progress.
Harry Kane is Irreplaceable
There isn't anyone yet that can replace Harry Kane when he retires from International football. I mean when you look at who's on the bench for England at centre-forward positions, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. Yes, they're good players but there's no way anyone can go in and fill Harry's boots because he's very, very special.
Although we've got good centre-forwards, very good centre-forwards, there's no one like him that can produce what he does.
That's one thing to look at the next few tournaments. How long he can keep on doing it is another thing. Whether he'll be still doing what he's doing in two years' time, I don't know. It wouldn't surprise me. There's no one to come in and do what he's doing at the minute.
Altitude is going to be a leveller for Mexico
I think when there are several places that you can say are hostile, but it's never been an issue for me in terms of going to these places. I went to play in Turkey, played in Russia, China. Yeah, they can be nasty, I guess, but I don't think they affect you. I think if anything, you relish it and you look forward to it.
I've never played in Mexico, I've never been to the Azteca Stadium, which obviously has been on my list for years because it's got such an iconic status, the stadium, and rightly so because of so much has gone on there. Maradona with England in '86 is one of those moments that you always think of when you think of the Azteca.
I'm really, really looking forward to going there. It will be a great atmosphere. It'll be 75, 80% Mexicans in a difficult situation in terms of altitude. The weather doesn't look as if it's going to be a problem, but altitude maybe.
I've never played in altitude before. I've spoken to Gary Lineker about that and how difficult it is. So, I guess I would be really, really confident if this game was anywhere in Europe that England could win. But because of where it is and the altitude and all of that, then I think that sort of evens things up a bit more for Mexico.
England have been reasonably lucky in the four games we've had because twice it's been absolutely pouring rain, no sunshine, and twice it's been in air-conditioned stadiums. But that's about to change in terms of conditions.
England can't afford to start against Mexico like they did against DR Congo
England can't afford to have a start like they had against DR Congo, otherwise, they'll find it very difficult to come back. I think we know how Mexico are going to come out and try and rattle England in the first 15 or 20 minutes. And I guess if we can keep it really tight or if we can score first, then that would be huge advantage to us.
So that's what we've got to try and do. You've got to try and keep the ball. You've got to try and frustrate them. And you cannot afford any mistakes like we did in the last game, otherwise we could be regretting it.
I don't think we have seen the best of Declan Rice at the World Cup
Declan Rice played his part in the first goal against DR Congo. Because of that position change, he went into right back and he more than played his part because he got the ball across and then Anthony Gordon sort of kept it alive, then played the cross in.
I don't think we've seen the best of Declan yet. I think he's looked really tired. He is probably carrying an injury, which is probably tough on him. We need him to be back to his very best in the middle of the park, not at right back. I don't see him starting at right back.
Back four changes aren't helping Pickford's form
Again, the manager's got decisions to make in terms of does he stick with Djed Spence because you lose a little bit of quality down the right-hand side or does he put Ezri Konsa in there and then play John Stones at centre half?
But again, that's shifting things around and moving and I don't know whether it's confusing or not, but that's moving the players around again, which I don't think has been ideal. I do think the back four looks shaky. I do think Jordan Pickford hasn't looked his normal self as well.
I guess because of the chopping and changing of the back four, I don't think that has helped Pickford. But he certainly hasn't looked as assured and his kicking hasn't been as good as it normally is. I think he would tell himself because of his very high standards for England that he would expect to keep that goal out the other day that DR Congo scored.
Anthony Gordon deserves to start over Rashford against Mexico
I would make changes to the England side against Mexico. I would perhaps put Konsa at right back and I'd play John Stones in the middle. Konza right back, O'Reilly left back, Guehi and Stones at Centre-half. Rice, Anderson, Bellingham, Kane, Gordon, Saka.
I think it's very much similar to what I said. I don't think the wide men worked against DR Congo. I think Anthony Gordon more than played his part in both goals. So, when the manager puts you on as a sub, he's asking you to go on and impact the game. And Anthony Gordon certainly did that. So, I think he deserves again to start.
Whoever Thomas Tuchel has started on the wings haven't affected the game the same way as the subs have, and again, he switched those around, which tells you whatever he's done hasn't worked. The players that have started out wide, it hasn't worked for them.
I think England will beat Mexico on penalties
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.
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. 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.
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, the vast majority of time hasn't been great. I think England know they're going into a really tough game. They're going into a really tough environment with the conditions. That levels everything up.
It's a tough one to call. Mentally, physically it 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.
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 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.
I got the last prediction right when I said England would win 2-1 against DR Congo. So, I hope I'm wrong in terms of everyone's nerves and how late it'll be or early in the early hours of the morning. But I have a feeling it could be a long morning/night for us.
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.
I am ok with Tonali leaving and it is a good deal for Newcastle
I'm okay with Sandro Tonali leaving. As I previously said on this saga, if Newcastle set their fee at three figures and stick to it then that is fine and that's what they've got. I don't think he had a great season last season. We didn't see the Tonali we saw the season before, because he was incredible the season before.
I thought by his own high standards, he didn't hit those heights last season at Newcastle. So, to get that much money for him, I think it's good. I think it's a good deal for Newcastle.
They now have to spend that money wisely. By all accounts, they're going for young, hungry players in terms of £30-or-40-million-pound deals. So, if that's the case, then I'm okay with it.
De Zerbi is in a real power situation at Tottenham after their transfers
This is my argument in terms of the rules in football now on clubs spending. You've got a team who finished 17th twice in a row, yet they can go and blow everyone out of the water in terms of money-wise, where Newcastle can't. Newcastle have had to sell their best young players, had to sell their best players to comply with the rules.
So, it never, ever sits easy with me. But that's Tottenham, that's fine, they can do that. I guess Roberto De Zerbi got that in his contract, if we stay up, this is what we have to do, otherwise I'm not coming. So, he's in a real power situation. The power is always with De Zerbi in terms of what he wants and what he can do. I'm fine with Spurs spending the money, it's just frustrating that Newcastle with the wealth can't spend like that.
Jurgen Klopp would be a brilliant appointment for Germany
It would be brilliant for Germany if Jurgen Klopp takes the national team role. I think with his energy, with his charisma, with all of his know-how, I think it would be a brilliant appointment for Germany.
Obviously, he's been to all the games in terms of being a pundit now on the touchline as well and he's been critical of them. I totally understand that and I think his criticism has been fair. But he would be a brilliant appointment for Germany.