Keegan holds on to final dream

KEVIN KEEGAN'S belief in his side's Euro 2000 prospects remains unshaken, the England manager declaring after the 1-0 victory over Germany: "I think we are good enough to go on. The dream lives on. There will be a book written on England before all this is over and we don't know what the final chapter will be yet.

"We have waited a long time for this. I was only a kid the last time we beat them."

Keegan needed a headed goal from Alan Shearer to keep his Euro 2000 hopes alive and he was quick to pay tribute to his captain.

"Alan has answered his critics again," said Keegan. "We know what he can do but the critics are always on about him."

Former England boss Bobby Robson also praised the striker. "Never leave Shearer unmarked on free-kicks and corners. It was a good free- kick that gave Shearer the two yards he needed and it was a perfectly placed header - he's had a good sight of it and he doesn't miss those opportunities."

With the politician's eye for tapping into the mood of the country, well part of it at least, Chris Smith, Secretary of State for culture, media and sport, said: "This is a great result for England.

"They have both improved their chances of qualifying and laid to rest the ghost of German invincibility."

Copyright 2000
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