By Matthew Jones
December 29 2003

Glenn Hoddle believes that England still need former captain Alan Shearer, who announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2000. Shearer has stood firm on his decision, despite calls for him to make a return.

ENGLAND NEED SHEARER - HODDLE

Glenn Hoddle believes that England still need former captain Alan Shearer, who announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2000. Shearer has stood firm on his decision, despite calls for him to make a return.

Speaking to Sky Sports news, he said: "I think you get very few opportunities like this in your career. As someone who played on late in his career, I would love to have been handed the opportunity to pull on an England shirt again.

"If someone had come in to the national side, taken Shearer's shirt and shown that they can do it then you could understand his decision to stay out.

"But that hasn't been the case, and Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney will both be there. The next port of call is Alan Shearer.

"I don't think anyone in this nation would think for a second that he has gate-crashed the party with England already qualified for the tournament.

"If we are to do well, everyone accepts that you should have the best possible team on the pitch.

"When you look back on your career, and you had been offered the chance to go to a European Championships, you would be disappointed you hadn't taken it."

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