Shearer: Alli not the same player for England as Spurs
Dele Alli lit up the Premier League for Tottenham last season but Alan Shearer claims the midfielder is simply not the same player for England.
Alli notched 18 league goals and seven assists as Spurs finished second in the table after another impressive campaign.
Yet the 21-year-old produced a sub-par display as England could only draw 2-2 with Scotland in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
And all-time leading Premier League scorer Shearer was frustrated by the Three Lions who failed to transfer their club form on to the international stage.
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“There are, of course, exceptions and it is great to see the way the English players have thrived at Tottenham,” explained the ex-Newcastle United man
“But take them out of that club bubble and drop them into a team with other English players and it does not look so good.
“Where is the Dele Alli that lights up the Premier League prompting comparison with Paul Gascoigne?
“Where is the assured Gary Cahill who was at fault in giving away the free-kick for Scotland’s equaliser? Not quite as assured alongside Chris Smalling as he is with David Luiz and the excellent Cesar Azpilicueta.
“You had to check Marcus Rashford was still on the pitch as he disappeared in his wide position.
“Our best players thrive with top-class foreign imports around them. Put us all together, and add the unreal expectation around the national side that can stifle a player and we look very ordinary.
“We look like a team who this time next year will make it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup at best.”
One positive from the draw was that Spurs striker Harry Kane, captaining England for the first time, notched an injury-time equaliser.
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And Shearer believes the talismanic frontman rising to the occasion as he does so often for the North Londoners bodes very well.
“While England laboured at Hampden Park it was great to see Harry Kane delivering at the end,” he added. “He took on the role as captain well and delivered when he needed to.
“Having the ability to keep his composure to deliver the finish that can change a game.
“We can only hope that this is the start of something special for him in an England shirt.
“We need him at his best to stand any chance of making an impact at the World Cup next summer.”
