Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

'Something special is happening'

'Something special is happening'

Former England captain Alan Shearer believes "something special is happening" as Gareth Southgate's side reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

"Something special is happening," said Alan Shearer after England thrashed Ukraine 4-0 to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals - an opinion backed up by his fellow pundits.

Harry Kane scored twice, with Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also netting, to send Gareth Southgate's side (back) to Wembley.

When England face Denmark on Wednesday, they will be chasing a first-ever European Championship final appearance, with Spain or Italy awaiting.

"We started the tournament slowly but we are improving with every game," said former England captain Shearer, a team-mate of Southgate as the Three Lions reached the Euro 96 semi-finals, on BBC One.

"My head is telling me to calm down but my heart is getting carried away. Really, really positive - well done Gareth and well done England!"

Rio Ferdinand, who played for England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, was equally enthused after the win in Rome.

"I am even more confident now," he said. "The biggest compliment I can give this side is that I have never ever seen a side so composed.

"All the players coming on are impacting the game in a positive way, the manager is utilising the squad. Everyone is justifying their selection. They are hard to play against."

Frank Lampard, who played for England at Euro 2004 and in three World Cups, said: "We did every bit of the job right today. We ticked every box. Gareth will sit there and say 'what an evening'.

"Now you have to fight overconfidence but now is the time for us to get excited about that and the time for them to keep their heads down and keep confident."

'Something has clicked for Shaw'


Luke Shaw has enjoyed a career renaissance after being frozen out at Manchester United under old boss Jose Mourinho.

This was only the 25-year-old's 14th England cap, with five of them coming this summer.

He set up the second and third goals at the Stadio Olimpico, becoming the first England player to assist two goals in a single major tournament match since 2006. David Beckham was the last player before him to do it, against Trinidad and Tobago at the World Cup.

His three assists overall is the joint-highest number at a Euros for an England player, level with Beckham in 2000.

"From the outside, something seems to have really clicked in the past 18 months," said Lampard.

"You always had the feeling he is a machine and you can get what you want from him and now we are seeing that."

Shearer said: "It helps having people believe in you. Luke Shaw certainly has that now with both club and country."

'Kane has silenced doubters'


Kane has finally found his form at Euro 2020.

He only had one shot on target in three group games, with many calling for him to be dropped.

But he followed his goal in the 2-0 win over Germany up with a double against Ukraine.

That takes him up to 10 major tournament goals. Only Gary Lineker (11) has ever scored more for England.

Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "The doubters of Harry Kane have been silenced. You shouldn't doubt him. When he gets a chance, he's certain to score."

Shearer, who has also scored 10 goals at major tournaments, said: "Our country is looking at Harry Kane because he is such a special player and when it doesn't happen, it will not be nice - but he will be on top of the world again.

"It is incredible the difference in him. You can see he has a spring in his step. In the first minute of this game he picked up the ball 40 or 50 yards and pinged it and you thought, 'yes that will do'. Then he scored soon after."

Former Tottenham and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas said: "He has been waiting, but the one thing with Harry Kane is that you know it will come.

"He is a goalscoring machine and he delivered two big goals tonight."

Kane is now in the Golden Boot race, along with England team-mate Raheem Sterling, who has scored three goals.

The five players to have scored more have all been knocked out - including top scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick, both with five goals.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×