Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney have been snubbed as England’s greatest striker, with football fans favouring Alan Shearer for the honour.
While Manchester United icon Rooney and Bayern Munich powerhouse Kane have each done remarkable things for their country at international level – the latter even helping guide the Three Lions to the Euro 2020 final against Italy – football fans feel as though they are sub-par when compared to Shearer. A Betfair survey of 2,000 people ranked the 1996 Euros Golden Boot winner and NUFC legend ahead of both, and with a career filled with accolades, it’s easy to see why.
Shearer still holds the Premier League record for all-time top goalscorer, with 260 goals split across Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers – a tally that Kane fell short of in his 213 for Spurs, while Rooney racked up 208 with Everton and the Red Devils. Newcastle hero Shearer also bagged 30 goals for England before retiring from international football in 2000, making 63 appearances for his country.
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READ MORE: Harry Kane warns the Three Lions not to underestimate Serbia in their Euros opener
Full list of England strikers favoured by football fans
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Alan Shearer
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Harry Kane
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Wayne Rooney
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Michael Owen
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Ian Wright
Looking at the top strikers at the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament – which Germany and Scotland kick off on Friday evening – Shearer said that Kane will “be up there” in terms of getting his own Golden Boot. Speaking to Betfair, he said: “There are lots of good strikers at this tournament and I’m really interested to see how Ronaldo does, because from where he’s been playing, how Roberto Martinez will handle him, is he going to be OK as there are some doubts that he will be playing 90 minutes every game.
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“Is he going to be OK with coming off? I don’t think he’ll be far away from the top of the scoring charts, there’s no doubts he’ll score goals. I think Harry Kane will, without a doubt, be up there. I think England will go deep into the tournament, I think they have got a favourable group. Whoever wins the Golden Boot will go deep. Mbappe will be up there too.”
England take on Serbia on Sunday in their maiden group game, and Shearer is confident that Gareth Southgate’s side will earn a win in their opener. He added: “I think England should win the game. Serbia have Mitrovic and Vlahovic up front, if they decide to go with those two.
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“I think Mitrovic will definitely play, they will look to rain crosses in because that’s what he wants and demands, and he gets all the goals for them. England should have far too much for them in forward positions so I would say England to win by two or three. Opening games are never easy, a lot of the time they’re always cagey affairs, but I would think England can score two or three and win.”
England also face Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage of the competition, before the Round of 16 lands on June 29. Football fans have France down for winning this year’s competition in Germany (30% think so), while England are second favourites to take home the trophy – with 17% of football fans giving Southgate’s side the nod.