FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Alan Shearer and Michael Owen should be England’s dream team partnership in the World Cup. That’s the verdict of Newcastle and Wales star Gary Speed, who has entered the debate surrounding England’s best strike force for France 98.

Speed is now a team-mate of Shearer’s at Newcastle, and watched in admiration while he was still at Everton last season at the stunning progress of Liverpool teenager Owen.

“If it were my choice, I would go for Owen to partner Alan. The kid has all the pace going, he’s lethal, and I feel he would make the best striker partner for Shearer. It’s a difficult decision between Owen and Teddy Sheringham, but I’d go for Owen.

“Owen’s burst of pace can really produce something out of nothing, he can get past and away from defenders and that’s going to be vital. “  Speed, the Wales skipper, was just back from Tunisia, England’s first World Cup opponents who beat the Welsh 4-0 in a friendly, and was preparing to sit and watch the World Cup finals in front of the TV set.