I’ve changed my mind, we might actually be able to win this thing – ShearerPublished40 minutes agoWe might actually be able to win this thing.From the fans to the players, that’s what everyone must be thinking after England’s epic win over Mexico – I know I am – when I genuinely didn’t feel that was the case before the game.
There was hope, of course. There’s always hope with England at a major tournament, but that performance has pushed us all further forward and given everyone, including me, confidence and belief too.
Before I went to the Azteca Stadium, and watched us deal with everything that was thrown at us, I didn’t truly believe England could win this World Cup – but I’ve changed my mind, and I think everyone else has too.
I still don’t know if we will win it but everything about the way we played against Mexico showed why we can.
In my experience as a fan, player or pundit, whenever England have done well at a tournament, there’s always a performance like that from us somewhere that lifts everyone, the whole nation, and makes you think, ‘wow, we can do this’.
I had it myself as a player at Euro ’96 when we beat the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley and felt unstoppable.
I was thinking, ‘we can go all the way’ and that’s exactly how the England squad will be feeling now too, on the back of such an incredible result when everything was against them.
We fell agonisingly short in 1996 when we lost on penalties in the semi-finals but, 30 years on, there are plenty of reasons why this England side are capable of going at least one step further.
