HARRY’S GOLDEN FUTURE
Shearer sure Kane can repeat scoring triumph
ENGLAND legend Alan Shearer has backed Harry Kane to banish the doubts about his future and win the Golden Boot again.
Shearer was in a similar situation to Kane back in Euro 96 when he went into the tournament about to leave Blackburn Rovers, with Manchester United and Real Madrid chasing him.
But Shearer ended up as England’s top scorer in 1996 and later that summer joined Newcastle in a then world record £15m deal, as he refused to let the uncertainty affect him.
England captain Kane is also at a crossroads as he is pushing to leave Tottenham, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the hunt to sign him.
Kane finished the season with Spurs as the Premier League Golden Boot winner with 23 goals and Shearer has backed him to repeat his goalscoring feats of 2018 when he finished top scorer in the last World Cup.
Shearer said: “Absolutely could win the Golden Boot.
“He comes into it after winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup and comes into it on the back of having to sort his future with Spurs.
“I went into Euro 96 with Blackburn and had the tournament and then had a decision to make after it. It’s down to him now.
“I think he’s made that decision already. I don’t think it will affect him at all even if it’s not sorted out which we don’t think it will be.
“I’m pretty sure they will create enough chances for Harry to be up there challenging for that Golden Boot. I’m pretty confident in that.”
Shearer believes the semi-final should be the minimum requirement for this England team as he claims they are in better shape than he at the World Cup three years ago. The former Three Lions striker thinks England are better in attack now and also home advantage can give them an edge, just as it did in Euro 96.
Shearer added: “Because of our success in the World Cup three years ago and getting to the semifinal, I know we had a favourable draw in getting there, but it was still a big achievement.
“What we lacked then was that little bit of quality, that little bit in the final pass. I don’t think we lack that any more.
“I know what it’s like with the games at Wembley – if we get on a roll, if we get the country behind us, being England, you just never know.
“I would hope and probably expect us to get to a semi-final at the least.”
Alan Shearer is part of the BBC football team. Follow Euro 2020 on the BBC across TV, radio and online.
GARY LINEKER believes England have got a new Golden Generation thanks to the emergence of a wave of fresh talent.
And the BBC presenter says Borussia Dortmund pair Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham can be key this summer, claiming they have almost gone under the radar for some fans in the UK.
Lineker (inset) said: “Jadon Sancho is a wonderful, wonderful footballer. Much better than maybe people think in this country just because we don’t see him on our TV screens every week.
“Jude Bellingham is a classic example of, ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’, and there’s so much talent as well with players who have been around for a little while like Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane.
“England has a chance in ■ this tournament and that’s the first time I’ve been able to say that realistically for a decade or so.
“The future ahead is very encouraging, they’re young lads, England are going to be very competitive in this tournament and for many a tournament to come. “I’m very confident that they will get through the group stage but after that the draw looks very precarious and you could end up with France, Germany or Portugal and that is going to be 50-50 material. “Minimum requirements? We know the expectation levels will be very high in this country. Maybe quarter-finals.
“But it’s going to be very difficult to beat France because they have to be tournament favourites in my view. It depends on how the draw pans out.”