Kevin Keegan has insisted he will not attempt to persuade Alan Shearer to change his plan to retire from international football after Euro 2000 even in the euphoria of his match-winning goal against Germany.

Keegan certainly would like Shearer to stay on and has previously argued that the country would only fully appreciate the England centre-forward's importance once he had gone.

However, he knows that Shearer's mind is already firmly made up and has instead set the squad's sights on ensuring his captain's dream of lifting the European Championship trophy as his final act in an England shirt can be realised.

Keegan also praised David Beckham for his lack of ''ego'' in not feeling above putting in the workrate which his team needs.

Despite being one booking away from missing a possible quarter-final against Italy, Beckham will not be rested from tomorrow's final group game against Romania, after which point any existing yellow cards are wiped out. That will all be academic, however, if UEFA follow through with their threat to expel England if there are any more outbreaks of hooliganism.

Keegan seems likely to largely keep faith with the side which secured the long-overdue 1-0 win against Germany, with Shearer and Paul Scholes both set to shake off knocks, although Steve McManaman could be available for selection again.

Indeed, Shearer remains one of the main focal points of Keegan's plans for the tournament, especially after his first goal in eight England games against Germany.

Keegan has accepted that his international retirement is now inevitable and declared: ''I don't want anybody to say that they don't want to play for England again and that includes some of the players like Paul Merson who have said that.

''I'm disappointed with that. I just feel Alan's got something to offer.

''Despite some of the fantastic alternatives that we've got, if anyone was an England manager in my position - which I wouldn't wish on anyone - they would probably put him in just like I do every time because you know what you're going to get from him.

''It's for the others to force a way in by performing well when they get the chance.

''I haven't talked to him about it though. Alan Shearer is his own man. I've never even discussed it with him, I haven't talked to him today and I won't talk to him tomorrow.

''He knows, without asking me how I feel, that I was very disappointed when he announced it.

''I did say to him then 'think about it long and hard'. He said that he had done, that he'd thought about it for six or seven months.

''So I don't think he'll change his mind although, if he did, I would be delighted and I think the players would be as well.

''People can't keep picking him up and throwing him down though. I think it's taken its toll on him but I haven't discussed it with him.

''He's not a whinger. He's a real man and a leader, which he showed again against Germany. Although it looked a simple finish, I think an inexperienced forward may have snatched at it.

''I don't think there's another Alan Shearer in England, there's different strikers but not something like him at the moment. He's only 29 years of age.''

Keegan added: ''I suppose the best way for him to finish would be to pick up that Euro 2000 trophy.

''That's a dream at the moment and it's our job to try and make that a reality for him. It's his job as well as he can have a major part in it as he showed again against Germany.

''I think it's all about going out in style for England. He wants to do that. We desperately want that to happen - and that's certainly what the fans want."

Shearer, who has endured a steady stream of criticism over the past season, added: ''The goal is right up there for me as there was immense pressure on me to deliver the goods but more importantly to lead England to a victory.''

He added: ''The fans are behind me, they showed that in Charleroi and in the reaction they give me at every England game.

''I can handle any criticism. I don't really care, to be honest. I've had it through the majority of my career, for what reason I don't really know, but I'm not really bothered about it.''

The centre-forward's 52nd-minute header came, almost inevitably, from a free-kick by Beckham, who has played a major role in six of England's last eight goals in either the tournament or the immediate build-up.

The only concern is that England would struggle to find the same level of creativity without him and if he booked against Romania he would miss a possible quarter-final.

That is because of his needless foul against Ulf Kirsten yet Keegan insisted: ''I didn't have a problem with the way he reacted.

''He genuinely went to get the ball and he does go in very quick. This guy is a winner."