Former England captain Alan Shearer has urged the national team's wingers to adopt a more unpredictable style of play to enhance their prospects in the upcoming World Cup. England is set to face DR Congo in the last-32 stage on Wednesday, aiming to build momentum after securing the top spot in their group.
Thomas Tuchel's squad has encountered criticism for its struggles in creating scoring opportunities against Ghana and Panama. A goalless draw with Ghana was followed by a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Panama, which required over an hour to break down their defense. DR Congo is expected to adopt a similar defensive approach, having successfully countered Portugal in a 1-1 group stage draw.
A significant portion of the discussion has centered on the contributions of wingers Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, and Marcus Rashford.
Shearer, speaking as a Betfair ambassador, expressed a preference for starting Marcus Rashford on the left and Bukayo Saka on the right. However, he emphasized the necessity for these players to diversify their attacking strategies. "There's more to come from all of our wingers, whether that's Saka, Madueke, whether that's Rashford, Gordon. We haven't seen the best of what they can do yet," Shearer stated.
He acknowledged the difficulty of finding space when teams defend deeply but stressed that elite players find ways to exploit such situations. "The best finds a way, the best keep crossing the ball, whether that's going on the outside or crossing it from the inside. We definitely need more from our wide men, all four of them."
Shearer noted that while Rashford showed promise in the opening minutes of a recent match with a shot on goal, the overall play from the wingers has been too consistent. "You have to change your game up," he advised. "I just thought they were predictable the other day. Too many times, I thought they cut inside and just were happy to whip that ball in and no one was getting on the end of it. So, I don't mind them coming inside now and again, but they also have to go on the outside as well to mix things up."
He further elaborated on the pattern observed in previous matches, describing it as "very samey, wasn't it? Too slow, too predictable, too safe." Shearer hopes for a display with "a little bit more freedom and a little bit more risk."
Victory against DR Congo would position England for a last-16 tie against co-hosts Mexico, who advanced after a 2-0 win against Ecuador. That potential match would be held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.