Alan Shearer is not a man who does much wallowing, so when he says the 1998 World Cup defeat to Argentina still stings, you know he means it. That penalty shootout in Saint-Étienne has haunted English football for over two decades now, and Shearer was right in the thick of it. He scored that night, did everything he could, and it still was not enough. Some losses just follow you around no matter how much time passes.
What makes his comments interesting though is that Shearer is not just reopening old wounds for the sake of a good story. He genuinely believes this England squad is different, and coming from someone who has seen it all and been let down more times than most, that actually means something. He is not the type to hand out compliments to make people feel good about themselves.
The current England setup does have real quality running through it. There is pace, there is technical ability, and perhaps most importantly there is a generation of players who have actually won things at club level and are not overawed by the big occasion anymore. That used to be England's biggest problem. Players would turn up at tournaments looking like they had received a parking fine rather than a chance to represent their country.
Shearer's point seems to be that the mental side of the game has shifted. These players carry themselves differently. They are not weighed down by the expectation the same way previous squads were, and that psychological freedom could genuinely be the difference between going deep in a tournament and going home early with everyone pointing fingers.
Of course England fans have heard encouraging noises before. Every tournament comes with fresh optimism and every tournament seems to end the same way, usually on penalties, usually in agony. Shearer knows that better than anyone. But if a man with his history and his pride is willing to say this group can change their lives forever, it is probably worth listening to rather than just rolling your eyes.
Let me know your thoughts.