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England football great Alan Shearer has stirred significant discussion ahead of the 2026 World Cup by putting forward the idea that Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham should be left out of England’s starting eleven. As Thomas Tuchel finalises his squad for the opening clash against Croatia, the former Three Lions skipper insists that a midfield reshuffle is crucial to unlocking Harry Kane’s full attacking potential.

Shearer backs Rogers instead of Bellingham

In an opinion that has surprised many supporters, Shearer believes that Bellingham should not be part of England’s first-choice line-up for their World Cup opener. Despite Bellingham’s reputation as one of the top talents in global football, Shearer argues that Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers currently offers a more suitable option for the team’s tactical structure.

Speaking during the launch of Betfair’s World Cup campaign, Shearer remarked, “Jude doesn’t start the first game for me. I think Thomas will go with what has worked well in previous England games: (Elliot) Anderson and Declan Rice forming the base of midfield, and Morgan Rogers positioned ahead of them. I expect him to pick those three. That’s exactly what I would do.”

Maximising Kane’s goal-scoring efficiency

Shearer’s bold choice is primarily aimed at getting the most out of captain Harry Kane. The Newcastle legend feels that England’s struggles in past tournaments stemmed from a lack of midfielders making forward runs beyond the striker—something he believes Rogers does better than England’s other creative players.

Explaining the tactical reasoning behind his view, Shearer said, “We didn’t see the best of Kane in the last tournament a couple of years ago. To truly bring out his best, as we’ve seen with Bayern Munich this season, you need players making runs past him and stretching defences.”

He further added, “Harry is exceptional at dropping deep to collect the ball and play those decisive passes, but you must have teammates moving beyond him. That’s an element we’ve missed. If England want to go far in this tournament, they need to ensure Harry performs at his peak.”

The emergence of Anderson and Rogers

In Shearer’s suggested midfield trio, Elliot Anderson also features prominently. The midfielder’s reputation has grown rapidly since departing St James’ Park. Although it was difficult for Shearer to see the young talent leave Newcastle United, he admits that the move has turned Anderson into a more complete player, now ready to partner Rice on football’s grandest stage.

Reflecting on Anderson’s progress, Shearer said, “Anderson has gone up another three or four levels since leaving Newcastle. As painful as it was to see him go, it’s clearly helped him become a vital part of his new team. He’s a fantastic player and will only continue to improve.”

Navigating the No.10 conundrum and Foden’s position

While much of the debate centres on Bellingham, Shearer also acknowledged Thomas Tuchel’s challenge in managing the abundance of talent available in the No.10 role. With Phil Foden and Cole Palmer also competing for places, selection dilemmas are inevitable.

Commenting on the depth in attacking midfield, Shearer said, “We’re in a very strong position with our No.10 options. Realistically, one or even two extremely gifted players will have to miss out. Phil Foden hasn’t been playing regularly, and as a result, he hasn’t reached his best form. We all know the kind of ability he possesses—he’s just had a season below his own very high standards. He’s incredibly talented, but we haven’t seen that quality consistently this year.”