Portugal knocked England out of the 2004 edition of the European Championship as well as the 2006 World Cup but Santos says Roy Hodgson’s new crop can not be compared.
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By including Rashford in his 23-man squad yesterday, England manager Roy Hodgson countered critics who have accused him of being a conservative coach.
Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford was included in the squad after scoring on his debut against Australia last week, but Shearer does not feel his is a similar case to that of Theo Walcott, who was a shock choice for the World Cup 2006 but failed to make an appearance.
Hodgson added: “Rashford’s had that fantastic end to the season and he’s a very, very interesting player”.
The England manager admitted it was a “very hard day” when he was forced to tell the Leicester City midfielder and Newcastle’s Andros Townsend that they would not make the final cut for Euro 2016.
“I’ve seen England play”, he said. Austria is undeniably the toughest of the set but if things go right for Portugal this time around, the team could give Ronaldo much needed rest as it preps for the deeper parts of the tournament.
He added: “It was a very hard decision”.
“The balance is good, if anything it is tilted towards an offensive approach”.
There are only four players of over 30, the captain Wayne Rooney, Tom Heaton, James Milner and Gary Cahill. The front players, apart from Harry Kane – we wouldn’t want to move him from a central position – can do the job (wide) in midfield we’ve got Sterling, Lallana. I’ve never spoken to Roy and said: “‘Please leave me out of this friendly game because it might benefit me with my club.’ I’ve taken huge pride from playing for my country”.
England are taking five forwards to the 24-team tournament in France, which starts on June 10, with Sturridge selected despite doubts over a calf problem.
England face Portugal on Thursday evening in their final warm-up fixture before departing for France, where they kick off their Euro 2016 campaign in Group B against Russian Federation on June 11.
“But if we can get through that test and come away satisfied with what we’ve done and I can be satisfied with what I’ve seen, then I’d have to say the three preparation games have served their goal”. “If he does badly, we won’t”, he said.
On whether he was close to knowing his preferred starting lineup, he said: “I’ve been close for a long time because these players I’ve worked with for a long period of time”.
“If you’re going to a Euros, you’re going to there to win it, because what’s the point in not?”
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“Let him play. As a young lad, that’s how you see the best of him”. We need great mobility and great running power to defend in that way.
