Alan Shearer tries to solve Phil Foden conundrum with Arsenal and Newcastle United duo mentioned

Alan Shearer highlighted Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Marc Guehi, Jordan Pickford and Declan Rice for praise following England’s 1-0 win over Serbia.

The Three Lions got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a victory in Gelsenkirchen, with Jude Bellingham bagging the winner. A win against Denmark on Thursday should ensure qualification to the last 16.

There were murmurs of discontent among sections of England fans on social media following the victory. An underwhelming second-half display saw Serbia take control for large spells and Jordan Pickford was called into action from distance.

Newcastle United legend Shearer preferred to look at the “bigger picture” and praised five players for their display. He told The Rest Is Football podcast: “The bigger picture: clean sheet, three points and a win. For 35 minutes, we were red hot. There’s plenty to work on. Saka, in the first half, was brilliant. I thought he was outstanding.

“(Jude) Bellingham I thought was fantastic. Marc Guehi was superb. He defended really well in the first half and then he and (John) Stones were better in the second half. Pickford did alright. Declan Rice was really good. They were the pick of the bunch.”

Shearer also addressed the Phil Foden dilemma after the Manchester City ace bore the brunt of fan criticism post-match. The 24-year-old was recently named Premier League Player of the Season but has struggled to replicate those heroics for England.

“Phil Foden, a lot of the talk is about him,” Shearer added. “The problem Foden has is that he’s not a left-sided player. I know he plays there at times for Man City, but it’s not his best position.

“What is not helping him at the minute is we don’t have a naturally left-footed left-back. Kieran Trippier is there. When he (Trippier) gets the ball, his body position is to take the ball with his right foot.

“Phil wants the ball to feet and doing his bit with the ball by coming inside. That’s not particularly helping him.”