Alan Shearer and John Hartson desperate for victory in Lens, but who wins England v Wales?
SunSport columnists run the rule over the Battle of Britain, as Alan back Roy's boys but John thinks Lion's will fall short
SUNSPORT columnists Alan Shearer and John Hartson are desperate for victory in Lens this afternoon.
Former England skipper Shearer believes Roy Hodgson’s men have the firepower to douse the spirit of the Red Dragon, while Hartson is backing his men to leave the Three Lions bruised and battered...
HOW much are you looking forward to this game in Lens?
SHEARER: I can’t wait. It will be a really tough game for both sides but is one any player would love to play in.
There is a hell of a lot at stake, so it should be an exciting match. Hopefully there will be a good atmosphere — and no trouble — inside the ground.
HARTSON: Like Al, I can’t wait. This is what it’s all about. Wales against England is massive on any occasion but to have this game at a major tournament like the Euros is phenomenal.
I was lucky enough to play England twice in my career and unlucky at the same time because we lost both games, at Old Trafford and in Cardiff.
There is a proper rivalry there and it has the makings of a brilliant match.
WHAT did you learn from both teams in their opening matches?
SHEARER: The one thing we found out from England was which system Roy Hodgson is going to use — and the role Wayne Rooney will play in that 4-3-3.
In terms of the Welsh team, we already knew how they were going to line up but I saw just what a phenomenal team spirit they have.
They looked like they thrived on the occasion and really enjoyed it.
HARTSON: It maybe underlined to me how good a team England are.
Obviously, they didn’t get the result they wanted and the draw puts them under a bit of pressure now ahead of the Wales game. But England are a top team, especially going forward.
They just lack that clinical edge in front of goal right now.
HOW do you anticipate the match playing out?
SHEARER: It wouldn’t surprise me if Wales sat back and soaked up the pressure. Then they will try to hit England on the break with Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.
HARTSON: Wales will play exactly as they did against Slovakia. They’ll sit in and look to get forward on the counter-attack. I expect Wales will let England have most of the ball in the belief they won’t be able to break them down.
WHERE do you think the game will be won and lost?
SHEARER: Wales’ wing-backs will have a big part to play.
From what I saw in their Slovakia win, one of their main strengths is the width they get through Neil Taylor and Chris Gunter. So it will be a great battle between those two and England’s Kyle Walker and Danny Rose.
Another key factor will be Bale and what he can do in the gap between our back four and Eric Dier.
HARTSON: England are certain to create chances so the game will hinge on whether they take them. The longer the game stays 0-0, the more England will start to worry. That said, they’ll be worried anyway even before kick-off.
Wales are a team bursting with confidence — and England aren’t.
IS it ‘Stop Bale, stop Wales’?
SHEARER: I don’t want to be disrespectful to the other Welsh players but, obviously, if you stop Bale that gives you an outstanding chance of winning the match.
He is Wales’ strength and so, like you do with a lot of teams, you look at the opposition’s strength and try to nullify it. I don’t think England will man-mark him. They will be organised with Dier in front of the back four to try to police the space there.
Whenever Bale gets the ball, the nearest man has to close him down and not allow him any time or room.
HARTSON: Wales rely on Gareth, there’s no getting away from that. If we are going to win at this level, we need him to perform.
But that’s like all the teams with top players. The bottom line is Gareth can handle the pressure. He’s got nerves of steel and, if anything, he thrives on the responsibility he has within the team.
DOES Roy Hodgson have to change the shape or personnel of his side?
SHEARER: Because the performance was very good against Russia and there were plenty of positives, I wouldn’t make a change.
The negative side of that draw was we didn’t take our chances. We have to be more clinical against Wales.
But if it were me, I would go in with exactly the same side. Rooney, Dele Alli and Dier were superb in midfield. It really worked well.
HARTSON: Yes. He has to play Jamie Vardy. Why bring him to the Euros to sit on the bench? He also has to get Rooney higher up the pitch.
I’d also play John Stones ahead of Gary Cahill. My team would be: Hart; Walker, Stones, Smalling, Rose; Dier, Alli; Rooney, Sterling, Vardy; Kane.
WHO will be the key player in the match and why?
SHEARER: You have to say Bale will be because he is a superstar and a match-winner. But if we nullify him, that gives us a brilliant chance.
So Dier could be England’s key man as he and the back four must patrol the space Bale will want to occupy.
I also hope Harry Kane has an impact. He had no chances against Russia but can bounce back.
HARTSON: Bale. England need to stop him but I’m not sure they can. They’ll be scared stiff of him because they know he’s capable of causing them major problems.
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ANY memories of games against each other?
SHEARER: I played at Wimbledon for Newcastle in 1999, when John levelled just after I scored.
But I still really like John! He is a great guy and we get on well. The way he fought and beat his cancer tells you a lot about the kind of character he is.
HARTSON: I looked up to Al as a player and do now as a pundit.
As a player he was different class. I remember that game playing against him. I’d scored to put us 1-0 up but with a few minutes to go Al overpowered me at the back post to score with a header.
NB: Alan has the better memory. He scored in the 18th minute and Hartson equalised six minutes later.
SO what will the result be?
SHEARER: I’ve got to tip England to win. I will go with 2-1.
HARTSON: Wales won’t lose so I’ll go for 1-1. That would put Wales through and leave England with some work to do in their last group game.