The following is from the BBC On-Line Football site:

>>>>>>>Paul Ince looks likely to follow Alan Shearer's example and announce his retirement from international football.

Ince, nicknamed the Guv'nor, started all three of England's Euro 2000 games in Belgium and had been hoping to finish on a high note.

But the Mirror newspaper claims the Middlesbrough midfielder has now made up his mind to step down from the national stage<<<<<<

.......and there was me thinking he already had......BEFORE Euro 2000!

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000

Answers

Harsh ITK! (;o)

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000

He's seen the writing on the wall. In big frigin' letters. Ince has no future as an international. About time his colleagues Seaman, Adams and Wise followed suit. As for the Ugly Sisters, they needn't bother retiring. KK should do them a favour and not bother selecting them in future.

Out with the old and in with the new.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000

Oh - you can add Martin Keown to that list as well. I was debating in my own mind whether he should stay in the squad or not, mainly due to his pace. Then I found this in tonight's Ronnie:

Martin Keown has blamed "inept tactics" for England's early exit from Euro 2000.

England coach Kevin Keegan claimed the fundamental reason why England failed to make the quarter finals was the players' inability to pass the ball well or keep possession.

But Arsenal defender Keown reckons England's tactical shortcomings were responsible for defeats against Group A rivals Portugal and Romania.

Keown said: "There is a need for honesty. The bottom line is we were inept tactically. We were exposed against teams we could have beaten."

Keegan was widely criticised for his tactics after England's 3-2 defeat in their opening match against Portugal.

England, who went into the game with a 4-4-2 formation, took an early 2-0 lead but were being overrun in midfield and Keegan's failure to change tactics aided Portugal's comeback.

Keown's outburst will come as a hammer blow to Keegan, who places great importance on the loyalty and support of his players.

The morning after England's 3-2 defeat against Romania, Keegan stressed how much it meant to him to have the backing of his players - and admitted it would be a problem if any of them broke ranks to criticise him.

Resignation

He said then: "It's nice when the FA back you, it's nice when the fans get behind you - they've been terrific in the stadiums - but if any one player said anything detrimental about a coach you've got a problem."

Keegan felt after the Romania game that he still had the support of his players but underlined what it would mean if he lost it.

He said: "It means everything to me. If the players don't back you then you might as well go. I would go into Lancaster Gate and say 'here is my resignation'."

It remains to be seen how Keegan will react to Keown's criticism of England's tactics in the tournament, which is tempered by praise for the England coach's willingness to keep faith with older players.

Keown said: "I know the England boss believes no matter what your age, young or old, if you can do it for him you'll be picked. I know because I've developed as an international under his guidance."

But Keown riles at the suggestion that England's lack of progress in Euro 2000 can be put down to technical shortcomings.

"England's failings have nothing to do with technical skill because I don't agree we're not good enough as footballers.

"We simply did not gel as a team.

"Maybe there wasn't enough time for us to do that after a new manager was appointed.

"The sides that are doing well look well-oiled, they know instinctively where their team-mates are. They all play in a certain way.

"England are a bit behind in that respect as we only just made it through the back door. Suddenly we were there and the talk was of winning it."

I doubt whether he will figure any more in KK's plans!

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000

Keown claims he was misquoted. Personally I thought he was the best of a poor bunch of defenders.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

Still, Taggart has chipped in with an 'I told you so' about Ince and Shearer being too old to offer anything at international level...If ever Al is to score a hattrick at Old Trafford it's likely to be opening day next season.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000