Alan Shearer has said he would accept Sunderland winning the Europa League on the condition that England also win the World Cup. The former Newcastle United captain, speaking to Betfair's Hot Take Hotline, made the admission when asked by a fan if he would trade a Sunderland European triumph for England glory.
Shearer's Rivalry with Sunderland
Shearer, the Premier League's all-time leading scorer with 260 goals, has a long-standing rivalry with Sunderland due to his Newcastle United loyalty. He praised Sunderland's remarkable rise last season, when they finished seventh in the Premier League after promotion, securing their first-ever Europa League qualification.
Despite the compliment, Shearer remained skeptical about Sunderland's chances. "Haha, yeah, I would take that," he said. "I would take England winning the World Cup and Sunderland winning the Europa League. But there's fantasy and there's reality and Sunderland are not winning the Europa League."
Sacrificing Goals for England Glory
The fan also asked if Shearer would give up his 260 Premier League goals for an England World Cup win. Shearer replied: "Yeah, I would sacrifice that, why not. We have never won the World Cup in my time, so, I would give it all up, yeah, all those goals up for England winning the World Cup. Absolutely."
Shearer's comments highlight his deep desire to see England win a major tournament, even at the expense of personal records or allowing a rival club to succeed.
