Alan Shearer jokingly threatened Mikel John Obi with legal action during the latest episode of The Rest Is Football, demanding an apology after the former Chelsea midfielder falsely claimed Shearer used dirty tactics in their playing days.
Shearer Calls Out Obi's Mistake
Speaking alongside Gary Lineker and Obi, the Newcastle United legend confronted Obi over comments made on a previous show. Shearer said: "Last night you said I was dirty, I used my elbows and you used to get John Terry at St. James' Park to make you stand in front of me because I was always standing on your toes. Yet, we found out you didn't even f*****g play at St. James' Park until I retired."
Shearer added: "I retired in the May and you didn't sign for Chelsea until the end of July 2006. Explain it, either an apology or my lawyers are coming after you!"
Obi's Humorous Response
Obi, who played for Chelsea from 2006 to 2017, responded with a quip: "I have played against so many bald-headed strikers that's why I thought it was Big Al." Lineker then joked: "We have done a bit of digging and I think you might have got confused with a certain Antoine Sibierski."
Issuing the apology Shearer demanded, Obi said: "Big Al, sorry about that, send your lawyers to me, I'm waiting," tongue firmly in cheek.
England's World Cup Semi-Final Focus
The banter comes as England prepare for their World Cup semi-final clash with Argentina on Wednesday evening at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A place in Sunday's final against Spain is at stake.
Former England international Joe Cole advised Thomas Tuchel's squad: "They need fire in their belly, and they need to know that they're coming to upset the party. And I would almost go on the front foot with it, and get in the face of Argentinian players early doors."
Cole drew parallels to Chelsea's Champions League encounters with Barcelona: "When we played for Chelsea, and we played against Barcelona and they were the UNICEF team. And everyone loved Messi and Ronaldinho. We were new to Champions League football, and everyone wanted this tiki-taka football, and we felt that, we played onto that, and Jose [Mourinho] would play onto that. And I think we need to do that as England."
Lucy Bronze on Stopping Messi
England women's star Lucy Bronze highlighted the need to shut down Lionel Messi. She explained: "Don't let him get the ball. That's the thing with the Argentina players as well, you watch them play at club and you think, 'Ah, they're good players.' And then when they play with Messi, it's like they've all just got a radar, 'Where's Messi? Where's Messi?' They make these passes that... You don't see [Rodrigo] De Paul make them at the weekend - now he does he plays with Messi more - but they just find him all the time."
