Editing Alan Shearer (section)

==International career==
Shearer's international career began in 1990 when he was handed a callup to the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21]] squad under [[Dave Sexton]]. During his time with the squad, he scored 13 times in 11 games, a record return which is still unbeaten.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406103353/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm|archive-date=6 April 2005|title=England Under-21 Goalscorers|access-date=22 July 2008|publisher=The Football Association }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm#CapsOrder|archive-url=https://archive.today/20050403221049/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm|archive-date=3 April 2005|title=England Under-21 Caps|access-date=22 July 2008|publisher=The Football Association }}</ref> The striker's goals at this level, coupled with his club form, meant he was soon promoted to the senior squad by coach [[Graham Taylor (football manager)|Graham Taylor]]. Marking his debut in the 2–0 win against [[France national football team|France]] in February 1992 with a goal,<ref name=farewell/> he made his only appearance for the [[England B national football team|England B]] team a month later. Due to replace [[Gary Lineker]], who retired from international action after [[UEFA Euro 1992]], in the England attack,<ref name=class>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/07/EnglandLegends_AlanShearer.htm |title=Shear Class |access-date=15 August 2008 |publisher=Football Association |date=15 July 2005 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080821215951/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/07/EnglandLegends_AlanShearer.htm |archive-date=21 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Shearer played only intermittently in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifying campaign]] for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] due to injury and the team failed to reach the competition finals.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearer-risks-echo-of-94-1252913.html |title=Football: Shearer risks echo of '94 |author=Glenn Moore |work=The Independent |date=27 July 1997 |access-date=2 November 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102130345/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearer-risks-echo-of-94-1252913.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[UEFA Euro 1996]] was a more positive experience for both Shearer and England. With England not required to qualify as hosts, Shearer had not scored in 12 games in the 21 months prior,<ref name=MIC2/> and even his overall goalscoring record for England did not look too impressive so far, with five goals in 23 games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_international.asp?HeroID=37617 |title=Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by |publisher=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=27 June 2014 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030222323/http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shearer scored in the 22nd minute of the first game, against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]].<ref name=E96>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36689.htm |title=1996 European Championship |access-date=13 August 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080704194447/http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36689.htm |archive-date=4 July 2008 }}</ref> Scoring once in the following game against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and twice in a 4–1 win over the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]],<ref name=E96/> Shearer helped England to progress to the next stage in front of their own fans in [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/15/1 |title=On second thoughts: England 4-1 Netherlands, Euro 96 |author=Rob Smyth |work=The Guardian |date=15 February 2008 |access-date=2 November 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102130350/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/15/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the quarter-finals, England were outplayed by [[Spain national football team|Spain]] but got through to a [[penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]] after a goalless draw. Shearer scored the first England penalty,<ref name=E96/> while the Spaniards failed to score from two of theirs, sending England into the semi-final against [[Germany national football team|Germany]]. Shearer headed England into the lead after three minutes, but the Germans quickly equalised and the match went to penalties again. This time, Germany won from the spot; although Shearer scored, his teammate [[Gareth Southgate]] missed his kick and England were eliminated. Shearer's five&nbsp;goals made him the competition's top scorer,<ref name=E96/> and he was included with teammate [[Paul Gascoigne]] in the official [[UEFA]] team of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/0253-0d7bd19d9827-e42f39bafcd8-1000--euro-1996-team-of-the-tournament/ | title=EURO 1996 Team of the Tournament | work=UEFA | date=1 January 2022 | access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> 

The new England manager [[Glenn Hoddle]] appointed Shearer captain for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] qualifier against [[Moldova national football team|Moldova]] on 1 September 1996, and the player held onto the captaincy after scoring once in that match and twice in the following game against [[Poland national football team|Poland]]. He scored a total of five&nbsp;goals in England's successful [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification campaign]] for the World Cup, adding strikes against [[Georgia national football team|Georgia]] and away to Poland to his tally.<ref name=MIC2/> Shearer was sidelined for much of the 1997–98 season,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/36821.stm|title=Shearer targets World Cup comeback|access-date=22 July 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=3 December 1997|archive-date=23 October 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021023042341/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/36821.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> but recovered to play in the World Cup finals. He scored England's first goal of the tournament, in a 2–0 win over [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]], his only goal in the three group matches.<ref name=E96/> England faced [[Argentina and England football rivalry|long-time rivals]] [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the second round. Shearer scored a first-half equaliser from the penalty-spot before [[David Beckham]] was sent off early in the second half. In the final minutes of the game Sol Campbell headed in what could have been the winning goal only for the referee to disallow it due to Shearer having elbowed goalkeeper [[Carlos Roa]]. The scores tied 2–2, the game went to penalties. Shearer scored again, but England were eliminated after [[David Batty]]'s shot was saved by the Argentina goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1900000/1900830.stm|title=England v Argentina revisited|access-date=15 August 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=29 March 2002|archive-date=1 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201121351/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1900000/1900830.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This defeat ended England's participation in what was to be Shearer's only World Cup tournament.<ref name=S/>

In September 1999, Shearer scored his only England [[Hat-trick (association football)|hat-trick]] in a [[UEFA Euro 2000]] qualifier against [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]].<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/sep/04/newsstory.sport21 | title= Shearer hat-trick hero | work=The Guardian | date=4 September 1999 | access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> This helped England reach a play-off against Scotland; England won the game over two legs and in doing so qualified for the European Championship. By now, Shearer was approaching his 30th birthday, and he announced that he intended to retire from international football after the Euro 2000 tournament.<ref name=MIC2/>

Shearer did not score in England's opening 3–2 defeat against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], but did so as England defeated Germany 1–0 in [[Charleroi]],<ref name=E2000>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36675.htm |title=2000 European Championships |access-date=15 August 2008 |publisher=Football Association |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080612090414/http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36675.htm |archive-date=12 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> ensuring that England beat Germany for the first time in a competitive match since the [[1966 FIFA World Cup Final|1966 World Cup final]]. To remain in the tournament, England only required a draw against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] in the final group match, and Shearer scored a penalty as England went in at half-time 2–1 up, but Romania ultimately won 3–2.<ref name=E2000/> England's tournament was over, and so was Shearer's international career. From his 63 caps, he captained the team 34 times and scored 30 goals;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=4559&ap=p&searchname=Shearer |title=Alan Shearer profile |access-date=7 August 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080804031947/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=4559&ap=p&searchname=Shearer |archive-date=4 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> he is ranked 7th in the [[England national football team#Top goalscorers|England all-time goalscorers list]], level with [[Nat Lofthouse]] and [[Tom Finney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/05/England_Legends.htm |title=England legends |access-date=24 July 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080723192049/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/05/England_Legends.htm |archive-date=23 July 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Shearer remained in international retirement despite speculation of a return during the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004 European Championship]] campaigns, and further declined an offer to be assistant manager to [[Steve McClaren]] after the 2006 World Cup – a position ultimately filled by [[Terry Venables]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/shearer-rules-out-playing-again-for-england-123078.html|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219123525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/shearer-rules-out-playing-again-for-england-123078.html |archive-date=19 December 2020|title=Shearer rules out playing again for England|work=The Independent|date=17 March 2003|access-date=22 March 2009|location=London|first=Glenn|last=Moore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/the-year-in-sport-enter-gazza-amp-shearer-exit-oleary-amp-sven-621467.html|title=This year in sport: Enter Gazza & Shearer, exit O'Leary & Sven|date=30 December 2001|access-date=22 March 2009|work=The Independent | location=London | first=Peter | last=Corrigan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205174347/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/the-year-in-sport-enter-gazza-amp-shearer-exit-oleary-amp-sven-621467.html |archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5108822.stm|title=Shearer keeps England option open|date=25 June 2002|access-date=22 March 2009|work=BBC Sport|archive-date=4 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060704070711/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5108822.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>