World Cup: Alan Shearer names starting XI that’ll win tournament for England

Former England striker, Alan Shearer, has selected his ideal Three Lions XI that could potentially win the 2026 World Cup tournament.

England is regarded as one of the frontrunners for the title.

The back-to-back UEFA EURO runners-up boast a talented squad, guided by German coach Thomas Tuchel.

They commenced their campaign positively with a 4-2 victory over Croatia.

However, they were held to a 0-0 stalemate by a resolute Ghana team in their second match. A win against Panama in their final Group L game could still see them qualify as group leaders.

The starting lineup for England has sparked extensive discussion among fans and analysts alike. In a recent exclusive interview with Metro, Shearer shared his thoughts by naming the XI he would prefer to field.

The 55-year-old retained the nation’s No. 1 goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, in goal. His defensive lineup features Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly, blending experience with youthful vigor.

Shearer has aimed for equilibrium in the midfield, placing Elliot Anderson in a defensive role, Declan Rice in a box-to-box position, and Jude Bellingham as an attacking midfielder. 

He made some intriguing choices for the wings, selecting Bukayo Saka, who is currently recovering from an injury, and Marcus Rashford, who has appeared as a substitute in both matches so far.

In the forward position, Shearer naturally chose Harry Kane, England’s captain and all-time leading scorer (81 goals in 116 appearances). The former Newcastle player is confident that the team he has selected possesses the capability to triumph in the 2026 tournament.

World Cup: Alan Shearer names starting XI that’ll win tournament for England