Shearer hails best ever England away day and predicts semi-final glory

Alan Shearer has heaped unprecedented praise on England’s record-breaking victory over Mexico, describing the occasion as the finest of his international career, and has backed the Three Lions to edge past Norway in tonight’s crunch quarter-final.

The former England captain, now a leading pundit, was visibly moved as he reflected on Saturday’s stunning 4-0 demolition of El Tri in front of a raucous 80,000 crowd. Speaking exclusively ahead of tonight’s last-eight showdown, Shearer did not hold back in his appraisal of both the venue and the team’s display.

“It was the best stadium I have ever been to,” Shearer declared. “The noise, the colour, the sheer wall of sound—it felt like a cauldron of footballing passion. I’ve played in World Cups, European Championships, and packed Premier League grounds, but nothing compared to that. It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever been involved in.”

The Newcastle legend reserved special credit for Gareth Southgate’s side, who tore apart a fancied Mexican outfit with a blend of pace, precision, and defensive resolve that left the opposition chasing shadows.

“That was probably the best away performance of an England team in my time,” Shearer added. “We’ve had famous wins abroad before, but rarely with such complete control. From the first whistle, we pressed, we passed, and we punished them. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.”

SHEARER’S NORWAY PREDICTION

Turning his gaze to tonight’s heavyweight clash against the Scandinavians, Shearer exuded a confidence rarely heard from England camps of old. Norway, who topped their group with a physical, direct style, are widely seen as the tournament’s surprise package—but Shearer believes England have the tools to dismantle them.

“I’ve got real big confidence that England can get through to the semi-final and beat Norway,” he said firmly. “They’ll be tough—tall, organised, and dangerous from set-pieces. But we have too much movement in attack and too much composure in midfield.”

When pressed for a scoreline, the former striker was characteristically bold: “I’m going for a 2-1 win. It won’t be easy—they’ll score, because they always find a way—but I see Jude Bellingham or Bukayo Saka grabbing the decisive goal late on. This squad has a different mentality now.”

MATCH DETAILS & TEAM NEWS

Tonight’s quarter-final kicks off at 8 PM local time, with England expected to field an unchanged XI following their Mexico masterclass. Norway will be without suspended midfielder Sander Berge, but star striker Erling Haaland remains fit and is certain to test a backline that has kept three clean sheets in four matches.

Southgate, speaking at the pre-match press conference, acknowledged Shearer’s praise but urged caution: “Alan is entitled to his excitement, but we know Norway are a different beast. We’ll respect them, but we won’t fear them.”

A NEW ERA?

Should England prevail, they would reach their first major semi-final on foreign soil since 1990—a feat that would cement Southgate’s legacy and silence decades of tournament heartbreak. For Shearer, who endured his own penalty shootout agony at Euro ’96, the signs are finally encouraging.

“I’ve seen false dawns before,” he admitted. “But this feels different. The togetherness, the tactical clarity, the belief in the stands—it all points to something special. Norway are a hurdle, not a wall. I genuinely think we can go all the way.”

Kick-off is just hours away, and with Shearer’s words ringing in their ears, England’s players will take to the pitch knowing that a nation—and one of its greatest strikers—truly believes.