Alan Shearer says England cannot win World Cup

[davieG]

Former captain Alan Shearer believes England have no chance of winning the 2014 World Cup and are "a million miles away" from the top international sides.

Roy Hodgson's side were knocked out of Euro 2012 by Italy on penalties.

"I don't attach any blame to Roy Hodgson," Shearer told BBC Sport. "But I don't go along with the idea England go home with their heads held high.

"It's no good sitting here saying we will win the World Cup in two years' time. The reality is we will not."

Hodgson's side were beaten by Italy last Sunday after being outclassed in a goalless draw in Kiev.

England's players won plaudits for an improved performance in Poland and Ukraine, after a disastrous World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

Germany coach Joachim Loew - who masterminded a 4-1 thrashing of Fabio Capello's side two years ago - haspraised Hodgson's management, and said that "England will develop under him in the next few years."

But Shearer sees a vast gulf in quality between England and the likes of Spain and Loew's Germany side.

"The big thing people have spoken about is the togetherness and work ethic but if you just want 11 guys to go out and work hard, I can find you 11 men from Newcastle city centre who will work their socks off," he said.

"That has to be a given, whether at a club or even more so for an international team.

"We are a million miles away from the top sides. Heads held high? Do you think France will go home to that reception?

"It's a sign of how far behind we are now that we can go home and say we can hold our heads up high for getting into the quarter finals."

The Football Association recently voted in proposals for youth coaching which include smaller-sided games on smaller pitches with smaller goals.

But Shearer believes any progress on the international stage will need a vast improvement in the coaching culture of the country, which could take years.

"It's no good sitting here saying we will win the World Cup in two years' time," he said. "The reality is we will not.

"We have got to get out of the habit of going to tournaments thinking we can win it. This tournament has proven that. We need a change in culture and to be fair to the FA they are trying to change things now.

"It's going to take time to put these systems in place. Our league is the best in the world for entertainment but only because it is full of foreigners."

Fellow England international and BBC Sport pundit Lee Dixon also called for changes.

"Let's remind ourselves where we were two years ago under Capello," he said. "We have come on, the team was an absolute shambles. We have repaired that but we haven't moved forwards football-wise.

"If you go and watch how they teach kids to play football on the continent, they are all doing it a different way to us. And we are not progressing, so they must be doing it right.

"It's not rocket science."

Phil McNultyChief football writer, BBC Sport

"Alan Shearer's outspoken comments about England will strike a chord with those who believe Euro 2012 confirmed that a change of football culture is needed in this country.

"They may not go down well with the players who fought so hard against a vastly-superior Italy before losing in the quarter-final in Kiev, but he is only echoing the thoughts of many."

[Corky]

Who said we were going to?

[Guest ttfn]

Cheers for that Alan

[Super_horns]

TBF He hasn't had much confidence in the England side for a whille..unlike Hansen who I think expected us to walk over Italy as with those Germans in 2010 before we played them.

[Out Foxed]

we got to a few penalties away from the semis by playing garbage football, so we can't be that far away.

[Tielemans63]

To be fair, I doubt many people, if any, across our entire nation actually thinks we can win it. Bit of a non-story reallly.

[ADK]

While i agree we were not one of the very top teams in this tournament i'm not sure about the coaching arguement.

This is the worst England side i can remember in terms of ability but we have had a strong side in recent history.

Was coaching in the 80's and 90's better than it is today?

Did Alan Shearer receive better coaching than todays footballers?

The only thing i can think of that has really changed in English football is the number of English players in the domestic leagues.

Maybe that is the problem?

[Mack]

Rather than just moaning, as he is clearly in a position to help if he has all the answers why doesn't he ring up Hodgson and offer his services as a coach?

Oops no sorry I forget it's much easier to sit on the BBC and slag the team and staff off rather than actually do something positive.

[rico]

I do agre with him,but he's only saying what we already know

[Fox92]

Well, that was obvious.

[VinceNoir]

He may have a point, but come on, it's Alan Shearer we're talking about. The man who said Balotelli has achieved nothing yet.

Alan Shearer: 1 Premier League title.

Mario Balotelli: 3 Serie A titles, 1 Premier League title, 1 Champions League title, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 FA Cup.

[Guest MattP]

Difference being Balotelli never held down a regular place in any of the sides that won those trophies.

[VinceNoir]

Still wrong to say he hasn't achieved anything yet, imo. It's not the first time Shearer's had a dig so I just reckon he doesn't like him.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Bashar al-Assad will not win the Noble Peace Prize this year.

Banks will not act in public's best interest.

Costa Rica will not launch manned space mission to Jupiter by 2015.

Cheeky Girls will not win Ivor Novello Award in 2017.

Get the gist Alan?

[Super_horns]

Rather than just moaning, as he is clearly in a position to help if he has all the answers why doesn't he ring up Hodgson and offer his services as a coach?

Oops no sorry I forget it's much easier to sit on the BBC and slag the team and staff off rather than actually do something positive.

Its a bit like when they have a go at officials...would they get off the comfy sofa with a nice pay-check to do the job?

No chance...

Mind you Shearer is so dull he'd probably send any player to sleep during a team-talk!

Didn't work in his very short spell with Newcastle.

Least ITV* had some current and former managers who might know what they are talking about and have better knowledge....

*Ok the BBC had Redknapp and Pardew for a game or two.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Is it possible to be 'outclassed in a goalless draw'? No doubt Italy deserved it, but it's nigh on impossible to be 'outclassed' in the definition of the term if the score is equal, surely?

[AyewJoking]

We do tend to dwell on things in this country. I doubt Germany are losing too much sleep after losing to Italy. Sure, it will anger them but they'll move on, its just one game. One tournament.

I agree a hero's reception after Englands performance in the tournament is not deserved but we as fans and more importantly the media, shouldnt be too negative.

In my view, England could do no worse than they did in South Africa. We've got two years now in which to build a stronger team with a better chance of doing well in a major tournament.

I agree with Shearer we wont win it and we will be miles behind concerning technique and fluid football, but that doesnt guarantee you success either.

[J.Lisemore]

Shearer = CVNT.

He looks so awkward when hes talking to that Jake geezer before kick-off its unreal, oh and were not gonna win the WC 2014? well I fvcking never..

[Webbo]

I don't think any European team has ever won a WC in South America and we've not looked likely to win any tournament since 96 so it wasn't exactly a world shattering opinion. Doesn't mean we can't do well, winning our group, making the quarters or semis.