Alan Shearer: ‘This World Cup is a different beast – but here is how England can win it’

Alan Shearer captained England at World Cup 1998 (Picture: Getty)

‘What we had to try and overcome in 1998 was hard enough – but this World Cup looks like a different beast altogether.’

As one of only 13 men to have captained England at a World Cup, Alan Shearer’s assessment comes with a great deal of authority.

30 years ago in France, the prolific Newcastle striker skippered England out of the group stages before an all-too-familiar penalty shootout defeat against Argentina in the round of 16.