‘Not as sharp’ - Newcastle United legend gives Harry Kane retirement verdict after Euro 2024 failings

Alan Shearer believes only Harry Kane can decide whether he should hang up his boots for England.

Gareth Southgate’s resignation as manager was quickly followed by talk about the captain’s future. Kane - who turns 31 later this month - was the joint-top scorer at Euro 2024 but attracted criticism for several lethargic performances.

Many supporters called for Ollie Watkins to be given the nod - a move that Southgate made during the Euro 2024 final. Rewind 24 years ago and Shearer called time on his England career aged 29 following a humiliating Euros exit.

England crashed out at the group stage after losing to Romania - and the Newcastle United legend never played for his country again. Fast forward to the present and Shearer has placed the decision firmly in Kane’s hands amid questions regarding his future.

“I don't think it's about playing to Harry's strengths, it's playing to the team's strengths,” he told Betfair. “There's no doubt about it that Harry wasn't as sharp as he wanted to be but he's our captain, our record goalscorer and he did score three goals, making him the joint golden boot winner.

“I said all along, if you're going to play him you need pace in and around him, we had it on the right but we never really got that from the left side. I know Luke Shaw came back and started in the final but we were always a little bit unbalanced.

“When you're as good as Harry is and has been, the questions will always be asked if you're not as sharp as you'd like to be. whether he was carrying some sort of injury that's followed over from last season I don't know, but he'll say himself, he wasn't as sharp at this tournament for whatever reason. 

“I was 29 when I retired from international football and Harry Kane is coming up to 31 but only he can answer whether he'll retire or not. What I can say is that he's a magnificent goalscorer who will score goals for many years to come.”