Ive Changed My Mind, We...

We might actually have a chance at winning this tournament.

That’s certainly what everyone—fans and players alike—must be thinking after England’s thrilling victory over Mexico. I know I am, especially since I didn’t feel that way before the match.

There was always a glimmer of hope, as there usually is when England competes in a major tournament. But that performance has propelled us forward, instilling confidence and belief in everyone, including myself.

Before I attended the Azteca Stadium and witnessed our resilience in the face of adversity, I genuinely didn’t believe England could secure this World Cup victory. But now, my perspective has shifted, and I think many others feel the same.

While I can’t say for certain that we will win, our display against Mexico demonstrated that we can.

In my experience as a fan, player, and commentator, there’s typically a standout performance from England during a tournament that uplifts the nation and makes you think, ‘Wow, we can achieve this.’

I felt that as a player at Euro ’96 when we defeated the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley and felt invincible.

I thought, ‘We can go all the way,’ and that’s the feeling the current England squad must have now, following such a remarkable result against the odds.

Though we fell agonizingly short in 1996, losing in penalties during the semi-finals, 30 years later, there are numerous reasons to believe this England side could go at least one step further.

Unity and Adaptability in the England Squad

I’ve previously mentioned how England has often depended on star players to bail us out of difficult situations.

There’s nothing wrong with that, as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham came through once again with crucial goals against Mexico.

However, to progress deep into this World Cup, we needed other players to rise to the occasion, and they certainly came through in the last match.

Every single player who took the field at the Azteca contributed, and Thomas Tuchel’s substitutions were also pivotal.

At 55, I’d consider that performance one of the best team displays I’ve seen from any England side in my lifetime, especially when playing away.

It was a joy to witness, as they faced numerous challenges including altitude, an electrifying stadium atmosphere, and the adversity of going down to ten players.

I’ve never seen such unity and team spirit; achieving a result in such a tough scenario was truly impressive. It was heartwarming to see the players celebrating together afterwards, especially when John Stones pretended to be injured before breaking into dance with the rest of the squad.

Tuchel’s reaction to realizing it was a prank provided another glimpse into the camaraderie of this team, highlighting that togetherness extends to the management as well.

Facing Norway in Miami presents a different challenge, but what we’ve learned from this World Cup is that regardless of what happens, Tuchel’s England will be prepared.

I don’t view the England team as having a fixed identity, unlike teams like Spain that tend to dominate possession or Argentina which is built around Lionel Messi.

Instead, we’ve shown adaptability, adjusting our approach based on our opponents and the state of the game.

This strategy has brought us to the quarter-finals, and I believe it should remain unchanged.

Stopping Haaland

It’s easy to speculate about potential semi-final opponents—be it Argentina or Switzerland—but first, we must focus on overcoming Norway.

I’m feeling optimistic, yet I think we all agree that if we can neutralize Erling Haaland, we significantly increase our chances of winning that match.

Realizing this doesn’t simplify the task; after all, Brazil learned the hard way when he scored twice to eliminate them.

Critics have pointed to Gabriel’s failure to stay close enough to challenge Haaland for the header on his first goal, but I attribute that to elite forward play rather than a defensive error.

Haaland’s movement creates that space, and once he has a sight of the goal, especially in the box, he’s lethal. His second goal also proved you can’t afford to give him any room just outside the area, either.

His relentless nature makes him nearly unstoppable. To curb his impact, we need to limit his support from the source.

Some of the England defenders likely to face Haaland—like Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, and John Stones, also play with him at Manchester City, but I don’t think that changes much.

I genuinely believe it doesn’t matter if they are acquainted with him; we all know his capabilities from watching him week in and week out in the Premier League. If you’re unaware of his prowess by now, what have you been observing?

He’s exceptional—practically the prototypical striker. You could say the same about Kane. Both are distinct forwards, but their hunger for goals is identical.

At their current form, it seems destined to be a showdown between these two prolific scorers, both vying for the Golden Boot. Fingers crossed that it’s Harry who continues his journey.

Alan Shearer was interviewed by BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan

Ive Changed My Mind, We…