Former England international Alan Shearer has named his preferred starting lineup for the Three Lions as they target success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England are widely considered among the leading contenders for the tournament, having reached consecutive UEFA EURO finals under German coach Thomas Tuchel.
The team opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia but were later held to a goalless draw by Ghana, leaving qualification hopes still hanging ahead of their final Group L match against Panama.
Debate continues around England’s strongest XI, and in an interview with Metro, Shearer outlined the team he would personally select.
He kept Jordan Pickford in goal, with a defensive unit of Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly, combining experience with emerging talent.
In midfield, he opted for Elliot Anderson in a holding role, Declan Rice in a box-to-box position, and Jude Bellingham in an advanced creative role.
On the flanks, he selected Bukayo Saka—currently recovering from injury—and Marcus Rashford, who has featured off the bench in both group games so far.
Harry Kane, England captain and all-time leading scorer with 81 goals in 116 appearances, leads the attack. Shearer expressed confidence that the squad he selected has what it takes to go all the way in the tournament.
