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Euro 2000:
Owen fears for place !
Michael Owen fears he will be left out of the starting line-up for England's Euro 2000 campaign after being overlooked for the final warm-up game against Malta.
The striking sensation of World Cup 98 was desperate to build on the goal that gave England a 1- 1 draw against Brazil last Saturday and is disappointed to miss out again after being rested against Ukraine on Wednesday.
Robbie Fowler took the chance to show his poacher's talents with the opening goal in that 2-0 win and with Kevin Phillips starting alongside Alan Shearer today and Emile Heskey likely to be given an extended run in the second half, Owen fears he will be overtaken in the race for the starting job against Portugal in Eindhoven on June 12.
The Liverpool striker said: 'I was pleased with what I did against Brazil and I wanted to play against Malta. Am I in pole position to partner Alan Shearer?
You'll have to ask Kevin Keegan that. I've done what I can to impress the manager and I don't know if he has made up his mind about who will play alongside Alan.
'I expect Kevin Phillips to come in and score a hat-trick.'
Keegan said: 'Michael is very disappointed not to be playing but I wanted to take this opportunity to see Kevin.
'I haven't done it to hurt Michael and I am not wrapping him in cotton wool. Obviously it hurts players because playing for England really means something to them.'
Owen knows that Shearer has yet to be convinced they make the right pairing up front. The England captain prefers a more physical presence alongside him - and his opinion is likely to hold sway when Keegan announces his team.
But Shearer's strong influence as Keegan's on-field leader may yet benefit Owen.
Phillips could indeed score a hat-trick today but it might count for nothing if the skipper decides he is not comfortable with the Sunder-land man.
Shearer indicated a week ago that he believes a partnership with Heskey would be productive.
He also claimed that he and Owen had been forced to talk over their own play together and find out how they could improve their under-standing.
After Shearer set up Owen's goal against Brazil, the 20-year-old Liverpool man must have felt the pair had finally clicked and is frustrated that he has not been given a chance further to cement the partnership.
Owen said: 'I don't know whether today's side will be the same as the team that starts the Championship. Teams can change so quickly - Kevin has his chance now, Emile had his and Robbie scored against Ukraine.
'But I hope I can still persuade the manager and I think I am a big occasion player. I'm certainly not scared about going into any game at international level against the best players in the world.
'I can then show what kind of a player I am. It comes naturally to me. I don't fear anyone when I go on to the pitch and if I am picked against Portugal in that first game, I would have no fears.
'But when I get the chance, I know I will have to keep on proving myself.' England's injured midfielder Jamie Redknapp could miss the first five months of next season.
The 26-year-old Liverpool man will have further tests on the knee injury that forced him out of Keegan's Euro 2000 squad amid concerns that this latest setback could sideline him until December.
An earlier knee injury in November forced him out for three months.
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Bergkamp to retire after Euro 2000 !
Dennis Bergkamp will retire from Holland international duty after Euro 2000.
The 31-year-old Arsenal striker believes the stresses and strains of combining club and international football will prevent him taking part in the next World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bergkamp said: 'It burns you out physically and mentally. I love to play and I love to entertain the fans with my football, but if I am not fresh it is impossible to do that.
'With the next major tournament, the World Cup, in South Korea and Japan, I won't take part in that anyway. I won't fly there so it's probably better not to take part in the qualifying matches either.
'I want to concentrate on my job at Arsenal. I really want to be successful with my club in the Champions League. That's why I prefer to put all my energy into the club rather than travelling all year with Holland.'
Bergkamp's decision to quit at the top bears comparison with Alan Shearer's announcement that this summer's showpiece will mark his England swansong. Both strikers want to finish with a flamboyant flourish.
Bergkamp confirmed: 'It is probably my last chance to win a major trophy with Holland. We have a great team, players who are more mature now and representing all the top clubs in Europe.
'The potential is there, we have failed a couple of times, but now it has to happen. We have to win it.'
Bergkamp still has nightmares about the previous European Championship.
He explained: 'Euro 96 was the lowest point in my career at international level. I was so disappointed with our team.
'I had been playing for one season in England. Even the English fans expected a lot from Holland. But in the end we ruined our own chances because of all the troubles in the camp. I never want to go through that again.
'Fortunately we have a coach, Frank Rijkaard, who has everything under control. He is so cool, it is unbelievable. Rijkaard does not treat us like little kids. He gives a lot of responsibility to the players. That's what this team needs.
'He doesn't have to tell us what to do. All the players respect him and know that he can give us the right boost for this tournament.'
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Don't give up on us yet !
Kevin Keegan issued a rallying call to the nation last night after seeing England's preparations for Euro 2000 peter out in Malta.
Laborious England won 2-1 with Nick Barmby the best of a motley bunch. But coach Keegan's message to England's worried fans was succinct: 'Don't give up on us.'
Keegan, aware that his team launch their European Championship campaign with a tough opening game against Portugal on June 12, added: 'People will say that if we play like that we won't win Euro 2000. They're right. We'll play better than that.
'This was just a little stutter, hopefully. It was disappointing, but not the end of the world. We write the stories and the story today isn't a very good one.
'It was not there today but it will be in the tournament. In fact, I'm pleased to get a performance like that out of the way before Euro 2000.'
The action left skipper Alan Shearer clutching an ice-pack to his left knee after he fell awkwardly early in the second half and had to withdraw.
And what should have been a victory stroll in the Maltese sunshine almost ended in humiliation as England's debutant goalkeeper, Richard Wright, had the sort of introduction to international football he would rather forget.
Wright gave away two penalties, conceding an own goal on David Carabot's twice-taken, first spot-kick in the 29th minute.
Keegan admitted: 'It was a rollercoaster for Wright. It was a pitch where it was tough for keepers, a bit of a dead pitch. But goalkeeping is about making decisions and sometimes you get them wrong. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. His handling and kicking were good. It's a learning curve.'
Wright finally redeemed himself and spared England's blushes by saving Carabot's second penalty to deny the unrated part-timers a draw.
Everton forward Barmby was England's hero and may even have played his way into Keegan's Euro 2000 starting line-up.
Keegan said: 'Barmby thoroughly deserved to be man-of-the-match. He was neat and tidy and never gave the ball away.'
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