Kevin Keegan is tipping skipper Alan Shearer to become England coach.

Shearer has hung up his international boots and stressed there is no going back on his decision after scoring his 30th goal for his country in the Euro 2000 defeat by Romania in Charleroi on Tuesday.

Only Bobby Charlton (49), Gary Lineker (48) and Jimmy Greaves (44) have scored more times for England as Shearer's penalty against the Romanians moved him level with Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney.

Shearer will now concentrate on life in the Premiership with Newcastle - where he is expected to one day launch his managerial career - and also spend more time with his family.

That is why Keegan sees no point in asking Shearer to become part of his back-up team at the moment. But he does believe the 29-year-old player has what it takes to take the reins with England.

Keegan said: ''I don't think it would be a surprise to anyone if Alan Shearer ends up being England manager. He has all the qualities.

''It is a long way down the line but he shares similar dreams to most of us who really care about our country."

Shearer admitted: ''Football is all I know and I would like to stay in the game in some capacity. As regards England, I am lying when I say I haven't thought about that.

''It's not on my agenda now. What is on the agenda is for me to keep playing as long as I can at the highest level in the Premier League, but I would like to stay in the game after that.''

Shearer insisted there is no chance of reconsidering his decision to quit playing for England.

He said: ''I want to remain the best and for that I need more time between games because I've had serious injuries. I've also done it for family reasons.

''Something has to be sacrificed and obviously it can't be Newcastle United - it has to be England.''

Shearer attempted to take the heat off Keegan after the Euro 2000 flop by insisting: ''The players are to blame.''

Shearer pulled no punches about the ineptitude of England's performances against Portugal, Germany and Romania and claimed: ''We've got what we deserved - an early plane home.''

Inevitably the inquest into England's woeful showing was directed at Keegan but Shearer believes the players have to take a large slice of the flak for England's second-rate showings.

He said: ''The manager puts the players on to the pitch and it is us that weren't good enough. It had nothing to do with tactics.

''The team wasn't good enough to progress into the next round so it is our fault, nobody else's and no excuses.

''It isn't for the want of trying that we have failed. We haven't succeeded because we weren't good enough."

l End of an era - page 22