Alan Shearer says ‘something special’ is happening with England after they cruise to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 with 4-0 win over Ukraine with the Three Lions ‘improving’ in every game
- England have reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 after a 4-0 victory
- Harry Kane scored twice while Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also netted
- BBC pundits lauded praise on the Three Lions in the aftermath of the game
- Alan Shearer who captained England said ‘something special was happening
Alan Shearer has lauded praise on England after they advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 with a thumping 4-0 win over Ukraine.
Harry Kane scored twice, while Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also got on the scoresheet, with the Three Lions now set to face Denmark on Wednesday at Wembley.
After the game, former England captain and BBC pundit Alan Shearer said he felt ‘something special’ was emerging with Gareth Southgate’s team.
England are one step away from the Euro 2020 final after a 4-0 victory over Ukraine
Ex-England captain Alan Shearer said the Three Lions were ‘improving’ in every game
He said: ‘We started the tournament slowly, we are improving in every game.
‘My head is telling me to calm down, but my heart is getting carried away and long may that continue.
‘What a performance, what a night. There were so many special performances.
‘It is really positive. Well done Gareth, well done England.’
England took the lead after just four minutes when Raheem Sterling’s angled pass fed through Harry Kane to score for the second successive game.
Southgate’s squad came out of the blocks flying in the second-half with Maguire, Kane and substitute Jordan Henderson making it 4-0 by the 63rd minute.
Shearer’s co-pundit Frank Lampard agreed with Shearer and said England ‘ticked every box’.
England will return to Wembley on Wednesday to face Denmark in the semi-finals
The former Chelsea manager said: ‘At this level of football, regardless of the opposition, what you are asked to do is do a job, and we did every bit of that job right.
‘We ticked every box, individual performances reflected the mentality of the team, the subs who came on, we got minutes for players who are part of this squad.
‘Now you have to fight possibly over-confidence. It is time for us to get excited after that, but for them to keep their heads down and concentrate.’
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand added that he feels ‘even more confident’ over the chances of Southgate’s squad to go all the way.
‘The biggest compliment I can give Gareth and his team is that I have never seen an England team so composed under such pressure with so much at stake,’ said Ferdinand, who was part of three World Cup squads.
Rio Ferdinand said he felt ‘even more confident’ over England’s chances of going all the way
‘All of the players coming on, they are all impacting the game in a positive way, the manager is utilising the squad.
‘He has been able to do that because of the quality out there, everyone is justifying their selection.’
The former Manchester United centre-back believes England have developed the ability to ‘grind down’ opponents.
Ferdinand added: ‘When you play against a team and come off the pitch having been beaten by them, sometimes it can be just because of a bit of luck.
‘This team, they grind you down, they work you hard, they ask questions of you physically and mentally – ‘can you deal with us?’
‘They manage every phase of the game and at the end of it they are potent, now they are starting to get goals, which is what we were waiting for.’