Alan Shearer has predicted that England's World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico will be a nail-biting affair that goes all the way to penalties, with the former England captain backing Thomas Tuchel's side to emerge victorious. Speaking to Betfair, Shearer acknowledged the daunting challenge posed by the co-hosts, who have won all four of their matches without conceding a goal and will play at the iconic Azteca Stadium, situated 2,400 metres above sea level.
England's Injury Concerns and Inconsistent Form
England have struggled with injuries to key players throughout the tournament. Reece James is expected to miss the match due to a hamstring strain, while Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been carefully managed. The Three Lions have delivered unconvincing performances, most recently requiring a late brace from Harry Kane to secure a 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo. Despite these issues, Shearer believes England have the quality to overcome Mexico.
Shearer's Assessment of Mexico's Strengths
Shearer praised Mexico's performances, particularly their dominant display against Ecuador. 'Mexico have looked really good. I think they were really, really good against Ecuador in their last game. I think they overpowered them. It looked as if Ecuador didn’t know what was coming and they hit them early and the game was pretty much over,' he said. 'And that’s what England are going to have to be wary of because if they get in front, it’ll be difficult to peg them back.'
Conditions as a Leveler
Despite Mexico's strong form and home advantage, Shearer noted that the challenging conditions could even the playing field. 'When you look at some of the players that Mexico have got, you think, yeah, they’re good, but as I keep going back to it is that the conditions might just even itself out,' he said. 'They’ve only lost twice there in so many years in the Azteca. I get that. But if you look at the quality of the opposition that they’ve played, vast majority of time hasn’t been great.'
Prediction: England on Penalties
Shearer predicted a grueling encounter that could extend into extra time and penalties. 'I’m not going to predict England to be beaten. I think it could be a really long evening. I think this could be the first time England go to penalties, extra time and then penalties. So, I’m going to say it will be a very long night/morning for you guys back home. And I’m going to go England win on penalties,' he stated. He added that if he were at home, he would head to a pub early to ease the nerves.
Looking Ahead
England will need to be at their very best to overcome Mexico, especially given the altitude and hostile atmosphere. Shearer concluded: 'Mentally, physically is going to be tough for England and they’re going to have to be at their very, very best to get through, which we haven’t seen yet. So, let’s hope that they’re saving their best for Mexico.'
