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Joe Doyle & James Quinlan

Alan Shearer and Micah Richards agree on Richarlison amid Gabriel Jesus and Firmino decisions

Alan Shearer and Micah Richards heaped praise on Tottenham striker Richarlison following his two goals for Brazil against Serbia, stating the 25-year-old has shown exactly why he is leading the line for his country ahead of the likes of Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus and Liverpool's Roberto Firmino.

The Spurs striker was chosen to lead the line in the Selecao's World Cup opener, but had somewhat of an anonymous first-half, touching the ball fewer times than any other player on the pitch.

However, he was at the right place in the right time to open the scoring for Tite's side, capitalising to poke home after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic parried Vinicius Jnr's shot just after the hour mark.

READ MORE: Richarlison answers Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino questions with Brazil stunner

And he sealed the win with a stunning effort just 10 minutes later, controlling a cross up into the air before swivelling and acrobatically volleying the ball into the near corner.

Shearer was quick to praise the Spurs star after the game on the BBC's coverage of the clash, in particular pointing to his first goal as a pleasing effort from a striker's point of view.

"His goals were very different (to each other)," Shearer said. "The first one a poacher’s goal, that kind of goal which gives me as much satisfaction as seeing the incredible volley with his second one, but he’s a man in form in that yellow shirt.

"Yet to score in the Premier League for Spurs this season but for Brazil he seems on fire."

Richards alluded to questions over whether the striker should be Brazil's starting striker, stating that the former Everton star had answered his doubters emphatically.

"When you look at Brazil we were all excited before we came today, we were thinking: are they going to put on a show for us? They teased us and teased us and in the second half it came," Richards added.

"Richarlison, you know who was marmite at times, but today he really showed us why he is Brazil’s No.9. You’ve got the likes of Jesus on the bench, Firmino is at home, he’s not even here, and he [Richarlison] showed today why he is No.9."

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