Alan Shearer’s finest moment as an England player was undoubtedly Euro '96.
When he lined up against Switzerland at Wembley on 8 June 1996 the Geordie had suffered, by his standards, a monumental goal drought – his last goal for his country coming in a friendly against the USA in September 1994.
But Shearer blasted away all doubts with five goals in five games, including two against Holland and England’s goal against Germany in the semi-final.
After that, Shearer was given the captain’s armband for England’s next match, a World Cup Qualifier against Moldova, and went on to lead his country 34 times.
His last game as captain was against Romania at Euro 2000 when, despite his 40th-minute penalty, the Three Lions lost 3-2 and Shearer retired from the international game.
But it’s a testament to his legendary status and impressive domestic form that before the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 many fans and pundits clamoured for his return.
Shearer was the first player to score 200 Premiership goals and also broke Jackie Milburn’s Newcastle goalscoring record. He plundered 30 goals in 63 games for England.
He and we have fond memories of England’s 4-1 victory over Holland at Euro '96 (“the best atmosphere I played in at Wembley”) and his best goal, a 25-yard strike in a World Cup Qualifier against Poland in October 1996.