Alan Shearer and Micah Richards cannot agree on who should be England’s chief playmaker, with one pundit adamant that Jude Bellingham must start at the World Cup
Micah Richards is in no doubt who England’s best player is (Image: Getty Images)
Micah Richards is adamant that Jude Bellingham is England’s “best player” and there is “no debate” about that, but Alan Shearer seems to want to have a different face as the team’s No. 10.
The Three Lions have finished their warm-up games, defeating New Zealand and Costa Rica, but the debate over the future of the team continues. Bellingham started as the team’s playmaker in Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica.
That is believed to be the role he should play as the Real Madrid star reaches a big moment for England and proves himself on the big stage. Despite a public disagreement with Thomas Tuchel, he appears to be at the top of the race to start England’s opening game against Croatia next week.
But Shearer believes Morgan Rodgers, who heads into the World Cup coming off one of the best and most influential seasons of his career at Aston Villa, is the man England should use as their chief playmaker.
He told The Rest is Football: “I would choose Morgan Rodgers. We’re going into the World Cup and we’re all pretty optimistic about how it’s going to go.”
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“I’m pretty happy with how England have been lately and Morgan Rodgers has played a big part in that. So I think the manager will follow him and I couldn’t be happier if that’s his decision.”
In response to Shearer’s comments, Richards made it clear that Bellingham should still be the central figure, but was open to the possibility of them teaming up: “In terms of big moments, Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid, Champions League winners – he was the one when England were losing in other tournaments.
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rodgers are options to play number 10 for England
“He has the character to step up in important moments. I understand the point about Morgan Rogers and you might see them both in the team at times. But as the main No. 10, there is no question for me that it should be Jude Bellingham. We have to have Jude in the team.”
“This is what frustrates me. We have a real superstar in Jude Bellingham…that’s not even up for debate. He’s the best player and he has to start. He’s proven, he’s proven at the highest level, so he has to start.”
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