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BBC pundit Alan Shearer and presenter Jake Humphrey pitchside in Warsaw this month. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Resigned

England can't win World Cup, sighs Shearer

“It’s no good sitting here saying we will win the World Cup in two years’ time. The reality is we will not.”

FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN Alan Shearer claims the Three Lions stand no chance of winning the 2014 World Cup.

England were sent packing in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals by Italy on penalties in June, after normal and extra time finished goalless.

Roy Hodgson’s men offered little from an attacking sense on Sunday and Shearer said he had no delusions of the Three Lions’ capabilities in Brazil in 2014.

I don’t attach any blame to Roy Hodgson,” Shearer told BBC Sport. ”But I don’t go along with the idea England go home with their heads held high.

“It’s no good sitting here saying we will win the World Cup in two years’ time. The reality is we will not.”

England booked a place in the knockout phases, having topped Group D and drew plaudits for their improved performances at the championships in Poland and Ukraine.

And Hodgson received praise from Germany manager Joachim Loew, who claimed “England will develop under him in the next few years.”

But Shearer offered a much more candid assessment of England, claiming there needs to be a change in the country’s culture, starting with coaches.

“We have got to get out of the habit of going to tournaments thinking we can win it. This tournament has proven that. We need a change in culture and to be fair to the FA they are trying to change things now,” he said.

“It’s going to take time to put these systems in place. Our league is the best in the world for entertainment but only because it is full of foreigners.”

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