Alan Shearer Selects Controversial England World Cup Starting Lineup
Former England striker Alan Shearer has unveiled his preferred starting XI for England's opening match of the 2026 World Cup, making the bold decision to omit star midfielder Jude Bellingham from the lineup. Shearer, who earned 63 caps for his country, revealed his team selection ahead of the tournament's kick-off this summer.
Shearer's Starting XI: Rogers Preferred Over Bellingham
In a surprising move, Shearer has chosen Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers to orchestrate play in midfield, relegating Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham to the bench. Bellingham has been struggling with a hamstring injury sustained in early February, which may have influenced Shearer's thinking.
Alan Shearer's England XI for the World Cup opener against Croatia on 17 June in Arlington, Texas:
- Jordan Pickford (Goalkeeper)
- Reece James (Right-back)
- Marc Guehi (Centre-back)
- Ezri Konsa (Centre-back)
- Lewis Hall (Left-back)
- Declan Rice (Defensive midfield)
- Elliot Anderson (Central midfield)
- Morgan Rogers (Attacking midfield)
- Bukayo Saka (Right wing)
- Harry Kane (Striker)
- Anthony Gordon (Left wing)
Shearer's midfield trio features Rogers operating ahead of the deeper-lying partnership of Rice and Anderson, who impressed during England's qualification victories over Serbia, Latvia, and Wales last autumn.
Tuchel's Concerns and Shearer's Key Man
England manager Thomas Tuchel recently expressed concerns about his attacking players' form, noting that only captain Harry Kane is currently delivering the expected offensive output. "I would love them to have more numbers," Tuchel stated, referencing players including Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers.
Despite acknowledging Bukayo Saka's somewhat diminished form for Arsenal this season, Shearer identified the winger as crucial to England's World Cup ambitions. "Saka is going to be a big player for England," Shearer told Betfair. "If England are to be successful in the summer, he will play a huge part in that."
Newcastle Connection and Defensive Decisions
Shearer's lineup includes two Newcastle United players, reflecting his strong ties to the club. Lewis Hall gets the nod at left-back over Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, who has featured prominently for Pep Guardiola's side this campaign.
"They've both had really good seasons," Shearer commented about the left-back competition. "What a weekend O'Reilly had scoring two goals in the Carabao Cup final. They're two very, very good players going head-to-head for what could be a really important position."
Confidence in England's World Cup Prospects
Shearer remains optimistic about England's chances of lifting the trophy, despite strong competition from other footballing nations. "I believe England can win the World Cup," he asserted. "When you look at our talent, when you look at the players fighting for positions, then yeah. England have got a really, really good chance to win it."
He acknowledged the formidable challenges posed by France, Spain, and Portugal, all of whom boast exceptional squads. "They'll all be seeing what we're seeing and obviously clearly only one can win it, but we go into it with a real proper chance here," Shearer concluded, expressing faith in England's capabilities on the global stage.
