Will Harry Kane win the World Cup for England?

0:00Alan Shearer:This episode is brought to you by Gemini, Google's personal AI assistant. If you've listened to the show for a while now, you'll know we love to debate the finer points of football. Let's bring in Gemini, shall we? Did Gary Lineker ever leave the six-yard box? That's a common joke about Gary Lineker. While he was known for scoring a lot of goals from close range, He was a very talented player with more than just poaching abilities. His positioning and finishing were world class. World class. I'll take it. What did you think you were world class? I know I wasn't. For any goal, download the Gemini app today to unlock the power of Google AI on your phone.

0:45Alan Shearer:Sequences shortened, check responses, setup required, compatibility and availability varies. 18 plus, terms and conditions apply.

1:05Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Garolinic, all in the same room. Feels good, doesn't it? Feels really good. Nearly there, we're nearly there. The big one's coming up very shortly. We're going to have a little bit of a chat about possible winners by looking back a little bit. So I think we should probably start with the defending champion. Can we start on Alan's attire first? It's the best I've seen him. You're matching. Didn't get the memo, no? Didn't get the memo, yeah. No, I didn't, which is a bit of a shame. But I do think I'd go with a little bit Argentina.

1:41Alan Shearer:Yeah? Do you think? Yeah. Shall we start there, Argentina? Let's start there. Do you think that was the best? I think that's definitely the best final we've seen. Yeah. I was sulking there, wasn't I? Do you remember I told you this? I didn't get picked for the big one the other, the World Cup final. And I was supposed to do radio. And the radio binned me too. Yeah, I know. So I was just there, World Cup final, effing of Jeffing to myself, thinking, how's Big Meek's not on the big stage? I've gone there. I remember when the guys came over to me to chat about the final team. You got to pick the Pundits as well.

2:20How could you not pick me?

2:21Alan Shearer:You must have been so bad. You mean dicks my TV and radio? And he wasn't on either because he was co-commentating. Oh my gosh. But you know... So what's your excuse? You know who did the final? You know who did the final? Rio. Argentina. And he was all... Pablo. He's all nicey-nice with Pablo. Oh, Pablo was so good. He was such a great player. What a lovely guy as well. Great to work with. It doesn't matter though. You prefer me. Come on, say it. Well, we do know. Oh, finally. Do know. He was a better player, but... Not at all. The game, though. It was ridiculous. What do you remember about the game?

2:59What was it?

3:01Alan Shearer:2-0 to late on, wasn't it? It was the most dominating. It was one of the most comfortable World Cup fans I have imagined or I've ever seen. And they were dominant throughout the game, Argentina. And then one moment of turn things. The penalty, then they got nervous. Then Mbappe scores the brilliant ball with the kind of volley finish. Volley? happy with that not again please it did go over his shoulder and didn't bounce so I think even you would call that a volley but then it was 2-2 out of nowhere and then he said oh my god I'd written because I generally when I'm covering any big game just three four minutes before when it looks like it's all done I write down a little like 30 seconds 60 seconds because you want to get it right and I'd written it all down and then Mbappe does that and I just that's ripping up yeah ripping up again and then then Argentina got ahead in extra time so I thought right so it was different now I was comparing it to the final in 1986 and I was going to do a whole comparison with Maradona and Messi how the finals were almost identical if I mean you weren't born but in 86 Argentina went ahead right so they went two goals clear and then they were cruising and then Germany came back and scored two goals in the last 10 minutes or so.

4:22Alan Shearer:So similar to this game. And then it went through extra time. Maradona pushes through and Boricago scores. They win 3-2. So then when Messi scored, I thought, Christ, this is 3-2. It's going to be exactly the same. So I wrote this whole big thing. And then they give him a penalty. And then they give him a penalty. And it makes a 3-3 again. I thought, oh, Christ, I've ripped it up again. And then wait until the penalty shoot out. But it was some game.

4:48Gary Lineker:Probably the best. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I've been doing it on TV for 20 years, and that's the best final that I've been involved with because there was just so much to talk about. It was brilliant. It was amazing. I know you managed to get in and see it. I managed to get a ticket. It was demoralising. I was, because the radio thing was there, and I was sat just, I don't know, five seats down, and then I could see the studio where you numpties in there. So I was just, but then the game made up for it. Can we just say from that rejection, you've bounced back so well. I mean, you've shown a great attitude.

5:27That's what I do.

5:30Alan Shearer:Right, let's bring it on to this year's competition. Let's bring in today's sponsors, Gemini. Gemini, who do you think are the top teams to look out for this summer? According to recent rankings, France and Spain are considered top contenders. Argentina is also highly ranked, with England and Portugal close behind. How would you compare the Argentinian squad of 1986 with the present Argentina? The 1986 squad was famously driven by Maradona, who had a monumental impact on their success. The current team has different strengths, with star players like Messi leading them and a more balanced approach across the squad.

6:20Both had periods of great cohesion and success, but the style and key figures are quite different.

6:30Alan Shearer:I mean, I think the real parallels between 86 and the team that won it four years ago, and it's not really much changed since then, except for Messi being four years older.

6:42Gary Lineker:That's the only thing, is that, is it one World Cup too far for Messi? He has one-one. Absolutely, yeah, but will we see that same incredible player? Still ability-wise, I guess, but will we see that same player in the latter stages when we'll need him most? You two have seen them both, haven't you? Who's better, Messi or Maradona?

7:05Alan Shearer:I think it's a really, really hard question to answer because there are real similarities. Both got great left foot, diminutive. I never thought I'd ever see a better player than Diego because he just did stuff that I'd never seen anyone do. And I've never seen anyone do subsequently until Messi came along. I think Messi's all-round game and his longevity of career, because Maradona had a flaw. his personality, he was addictive and he got into trouble with addiction etc so you have to sort of take that into account ability wise so similar but I think Messi's probably been more professional, lived better and has given himself a best possible chance but Messi's just

7:51Gary Lineker:You played against him didn't you and Maradona The aura were you talking about him before the game before the tournament before it's like what was his aura I actually played with him

8:04Alan Shearer:for half a game for the rest of the world at Wembley and I was playing for the rest of the world because I was in Barcelona at the time I know you used to play for Barcelona you know what three years yeah interesting but the thing is all these players that you know world class players and me were in the dressing room and Diego walks in he's present honestly you could see people like zico and all going oh yeah that's incredible and he walks in and he just sits sits in his chair just just his shorts on and he's you know you roll your socks up he's just for about everyone's looking at just flicking his socks up then he gets out doesn't do his laces walks onto the pitch and he starts this thing where he bashes the ball right up into the sky and he came straight down bashed it straight up in the sky again he did it back 12 times with barely moving.

8:58Alan Shearer:He had to walk a little bit to get there. And even, we were all just like, sounds simple. I've seen that clip. It's ridiculous.

9:06Gary Lineker:I mean, have you ever tried doing that? Kicking the ball up high and then doing it again first time? It's not a chance.

9:10Alan Shearer:Within a few yards, it's like. If you did two or three, which we tried in training the next day at Barcelona when we all went back, he'd do two or three. That was the best anyone did. And that's running after it. But he just had this incredible aura and his ability. He didn't win the World Cup single-handed. I think that's quite unfair to say that about Diego in 86 because, you know, they were a good side. They're Jorge Valdano. Lots of really good players. The back, Rougerian Brown. Borrechaga was really good. A lot of good cheer. A lot of excellent players. But he was so, so dominant in that tournament.

9:52Alan Shearer:Without him, they'd have had no chance. but even then you know what did he score five goals in the tournament it's one behind the guy who got the golden turn we lost a bit we said it was going to be what two or three minutes before we mentioned that what were your goals like were there tap-ins yeah of course there were tap-ins I think the combined combined yardage would have there was six so probably about an average maybe four or five yards so yeah probably 24 25 yards 9 yards it doesn't matter they all count the same I don't know whether anyone's told you that what were the goals then we're talking poachers back poles you've never seen them come on I've never seen them the first goal was against Poland and in the Mexico World Cup we were struggling the first two games did nothing I thought he'd leave me out he didn't bless him Bobby stuck with me first goal it was an Everton goal at the time Trevor Stephen got it knocked out to Gary Stevens and then I'd made a dart move and darted towards the near post, gambled on where it was.

11:01Alan Shearer:It was my classic goal. Five yards out probably. And just got in front of the defender and the keeper and knocked it in. Second goal was a great move as well. I think Hodge was involved. Then Beardsley hit this great ball to Steve Hodge. He went down, left hand crossed. And that's why he never scored that many World Cup goals. Because he could never concentrate for long enough. That's why. Once you get out of the World Cup, everybody says I own this. He asked me to jump me through the goals. What am I supposed to do? Yeah, I like it. Well, yeah. A brilliant finish, actually, the second one, because the ball bounced before I had to take the weight off it.

11:46Alan Shearer:Just guide it. Yeah, yeah. I mean, honestly. so good and the third one it was the goalie dropped it chest and heart folly heart folly heart folly genuine heart folly yeah I don't want to throw you in Paraguay goals because they work are you still got the golden boot yeah and how does that work the golden boot I know it's genuinely interesting to me so did you go up and get it at the end or how does it work did it send it to you no there was there was a kind of where was it this is a function. I think it was in Paris. It might have been in Paris. Where Diego received his golden ball for best player.

12:27Alan Shearer:And I got the golden boot for scoring more goals than Maradona, really. Honestly, it was not. He must have been proud, though. That would be crazy. Changed my life. Changed my life. Genuinely changed my life. You know, I was doing well in the English league and stuff, but then you're suddenly on the world stage. Within two weeks after the World Cup, I'm in Barcelona. I mean, that's what it does. I mean, a few tap-ins, eh?

12:52Gary Lineker:All count, guys.

12:53Alan Shearer:They all count. Yeah, they all count. Hey, that's enough about my goal. I don't want to talk about my golden boot ever. You want to talk about me? I never played at a World Cup, so moving on swiftly.

13:07Alan Shearer:England have another golden boot winner, of course, Harry Kane, who's going to be, I think, really important for England. Let's get Gemini's opinion. Gemini why is it so difficult for defenders to mark Harry Kane? Harry Kane's versatility is a huge factor he's not just a pure goal scorer he can drop deep to create play has excellent passing skills and is very effective in the air is there a specific aspect of his game you're curious about? Yes, actually there is an aspect of his game I'm curious about. Is Harry Kane better than Alan Shearer? That's a tough comparison as they played in different eras.

13:56Alan Shearer was a phenomenal pure striker for his power and incredible finishing. Harry Kane has also achieved great scoring heights but offers more versatility in terms of quality. It really depends on what qualities you value most.

14:13Alan Shearer:Interesting! I've always thought Harry Kane's way more versatile than Aaron Shearer. They say you were stiff, basically saying you're stiff. Number nine that couldn't move. Is that fair?

14:24Gary Lineker:No, that's not fair, no. But I understand the comparison. I think there's no doubt if England are going to go far in this tournament that Harry is going to be key to that and also how other players react because I think in the last tournament what we lacked was players running off Harry Kane and running beyond him and it's perfectly summed up isn't it is that he does love to come deep but when he comes deep if you don't get runners going in behind then it won't work I mean Tuchel obviously coached him

14:59Alan Shearer:at Bayern Munich which is that an advantage? Yeah, he knows his game, doesn't he? I totally agree with your point in terms of coming deep. But when you've got bringers like Alise, you know, who are constantly running in behind, it helps, doesn't it? Or Gnabry or whoever it may be. I think at the World Cup, Harry Kane is key, isn't he? He's England's main man, essentially. So you've got to work around his strengths or weaknesses. He knows he wants to get on the ball. You know he gets frustrated. You know he goes really deep. Just play two wingers. I'm looking at Rashford. Rashford now. Rashford loves to get behind.

15:37For Barcelona, unbelievable running behind. And Saka can do that. Yeah, Saka can do it, but he likes to get on the ball too much. You can't have two of them coming towards the ball unless you play someone who's willing to run in behind from a midfield area. And that's the sort of conundrum with Jude Bellingham because he wants to get on the ball, but he wants to arrive, so it's just getting that balance right, isn't it? But Jude will bomb forward. But it's at the right time though. He wants to be involved in the play and then he wants to get... If Harry Kane gets the ball in the middle, then Bellingham has got to go.

16:09Gary Lineker:No, that's right. I think that's key. I mean, whether he starts, whether Rodgers or whoever that may be, they have to get beyond him and have to get into forward positions when Harry vacates that area.

16:20Alan Shearer:Who are you picking? Prime Alan Shearer, Prime Harry Kane?

16:22Gary Lineker:No pressure, big mix. I won't be offended. I don't mind offending you. That's very true. I've always said Alan Shearer, you know. Always. Alan's my man. He's my guy. Don't change your mind, then. Don't change your mind. However...

16:41Alan Shearer:I love it when Michael says, however, you know, something's coming. England stats. How many goals have you scored for England? 30. It's not good enough.

16:52Gary Lineker:For the great Alan. Alan the man. He will back me up on this. I think with the number of countries you're playing against now, and smaller countries, it's perhaps easier to score goals.

17:05Alan Shearer:He's finally agreed to me on that one. Yeah. You would, wouldn't you? Well, yeah, that's why I only scored 18 more than you. In World Cups, how many goals did you score? Two. Two in four games? Yeah. That's not good enough. Harry Kane scored 78 goals for England. Eight. Eight in the World Cup. Yeah, but 78. Yeah, but most of them, again, it's rubbish. So the only way you can really judge it is in tournament football, I think. So in World Cup. Hold on, he just said a minute ago, the old count. So you're going to use your argument for which part. He scored 78 and he scored eight in World Cup finals.

17:43So if you're judging off that, you have to say Harry Kane. But he was my guy. I was. Yeah, he was. Past tense.