World Cup 2026: England showed us why they can be champions – Alan Shearer

I’ve talked before in this tournament about how England often rely on their big players to get us out of trouble.

There’s nothing wrong with that, and Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham once again scored against Mexico.

But in order to go deep in this World Cup, we always needed other players to step up as well, and they certainly did that in the last round.

Every player who took that field at the Estadio Azteca played their part, and Thomas Tuchel did too with his substitutions and how well they worked.

I’m 55 years old and would describe this display as the best team performance I’ve ever seen from an English team, especially away from home.

It was a pleasure to be there to watch it, because it was pretty much complete, with what they had to go through from the height and the amazing atmosphere, and then down to 10 guys.

I don’t think I have ever witnessed such teamwork or team spirit – to get a result in such a difficult scenario. That’s how good it is.

It would have been great to see more of the same with clips of the players celebrating in the dressing room afterwards, when John Stones feigned injury before starting to dance with the rest of the team.

I liked Tuchel’s reaction too, when he realized it was a joke, which is another idea as to why this team means it when they say they’re together, and the manager is part of that too.

Facing Norway in Miami will be a completely different challenge, but what we have learned from this World Cup is that whatever happens in the match, Tuchel’s England will be ready.

I don’t look at this England team and I don’t think we have a defined identity, the way Spain always dominates the ball, or the way Argentina is built around Lionel Messi.

Instead, we are able to adapt. So far, we’ve just played the game in front of us, changing our style depending on which team we’re playing and how the game is going.

That got us into the quarter-finals, and I don’t think that should change now.