Alan Shearer has revealed the agonising decision to reject an invitation to play for England at the 2002 World Cup, citing his body's inability to cope with the demands of international football. The Premier League's record goalscorer, who netted 260 top-flight goals and 30 for England, retired from international duty after Euro 2000 but was approached by Sven-Goran Eriksson's coaching staff two years later.
Shearer's Injury Struggles
Shearer, then 29, had suffered a devastating ankle ligament injury in 1997 and serious knee problems that robbed him of pace. Despite scoring 30 goals for Newcastle in the 1999-2000 season, he announced Euro 2000 would be his last tournament for England. The tournament ended in disappointment as England failed to progress beyond the group stage after a last-gasp defeat to Romania.
Two years later, with Eriksson in charge, Shearer was asked to reconsider. He had just scored 27 goals for Newcastle and would go on to net 25, 28, 19, and 14 in subsequent seasons before retiring in 2006. Yet he declined, prioritising his club career.
Conversation with Eriksson's Staff
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport via Betfair, Shearer said: "I never spoke to Sven personally, but one of his coaches rang me up to ask whether I would be interested in coming out of international retirement for the 2002 World Cup. As much as I would have loved to have said 'yes', I just couldn't because my body wouldn't take it."
He added: "I made the decision in 2000, and I couldn't carry on because of the three serious injuries that I had. I knew that something would be affected and I couldn't give up league football, obviously."
No Regrets Over Decision
Shearer believes the offer confirmed he made the right call. "I think having been asked the question to come back, meant I'd made the right decision in the first place. So that's the story. I think once you're gone, you're gone." He cited Manuel Neuer's criticised return for Germany as an example.
"To give up playing for England was just hard enough anyway. It was an agonising decision, but it was one that I had to make because I knew my body better than anyone," Shearer said. "I know if I'd have played in that World Cup then I know the following season would have been a disaster because my body wouldn't be able to take it."
In Shearer's absence, England beat Argentina 1-0 in the group stage but lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals after Ronaldinho's famous free-kick. Eriksson's forward options included Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler, Teddy Sheringham, and Darius Vassell.
