Former England captain Alan Shearer expressed disappointment with the team's performance against Ghana in their second group stage match at the World Cup. According to Shearer, England lacked the tempo, pace, and confidence that was expected from them. He stated that there was no edge, and the team was playing too safely, with crosses and passes being poor.
Shearer emphasized that England needs to improve if they are to win the World Cup. He believes that the team has the potential to do so, but they must make significant changes to their strategy and approach. He suggested that the team should focus on creating more opportunities, particularly in the attacking third, and play with more tempo and pace.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel will be under pressure to make changes to his starting eleven for the team's final group stage match against Panama. Shearer believes that Tuchel should make changes at both ends of the pitch to help England get back to their attacking best. He suggested that the team could see a return to form with changes such as bringing in Stones and Guehi to the defense and Saka and Rashford to the wingers.
Shearer also predicted that Tuchel will make three to four changes to the starting lineup, and that England will play with more energy and tempo. He forecast a 2-0 or 3-0 victory for England over Panama. The team's preparation for this match has been affected by injuries, including Reece James, who missed training due to a hamstring issue.
With England aiming to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966, Tuchel will be under significant pressure to make the right decisions and get the team to perform at their best. The team's history of close calls under previous boss Sir Gareth Southgate suggests that they have the potential to go far in the tournament.
