Football: Road to Euro 2000 - Quotes: 'I don't need a confidence boost. I just need chances'
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Your support makes all the difference.You have to put the ball in the back of the net... I did that and have nobody to answer to. I listen to Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan and as long as I please them I am happy. I don't listen to discredited people and I don't answer to anyone else. There is no confidence crisis - give me the ball and I will put it in the net. I don't need a confidence boost. I need chances. I am part of a Newcastle side that hasn't done well. I have to take part of the blame for that. This sets us up nicely for the trip to Poland. We know what we've got to do. We've been there and won before but that is history. We have to go and do it again. This young man [Kieron Dyer] on his debut put in an exceptional performance in the first half. We've a star of the future.
Alan Shearer, England captain and man of the match
I was pleased. During the first half it was 105 degrees out there, but I thought they applied themselves really well. We made a couple of changes and I think, overall, we did as well as you could expect. Second half, I suppose until the last minute, you've got to be a little disappointed, but we all understand why that happens. I know the players will be, but they dug in and got players behind the ball. I am delighted for Alan Shearer. He has got lots of confidence in himself. He doesn't need people to have confidence in him but it wouldn't hurt sometimes. That hat-trick will give him a terrific boost for England and Newcastle United. People like him write their own stories. I'm also pleased for Michael Owen. He needed 30 minutes out there and got that. Everyone needs strikers to get goals and he got a great one for us. We can get the right result in Poland.
Kevin Keegan, England coach
I wanted to play in the second half but the physio said it was best that I came off. Those guys know what they are talking about. I am now looking forward to Poland. Hopefully, I will be selected.
Kieron Dyer, England debutant
I was itching to get on from the start. Not playing was disappointing but it's the manager's job to pick the team and he was probably right to leave me out after only playing a couple of minutes [for Liverpool]. It was great to get that goal. I haven't scored for five or six months because of the injury. It was great to get on the pitch and play at Wembley and then score. When you're five up at half-time it's always difficult to go out and try to score another five. We killed the game off in the first 20 minutes and it was an easy victory after that. Alan's been in for a lot of stick but he's the captain and he's got broad shoulders to take it on. He proved his worth. It was a great hat-trick and there is no one in the squad doubting Alan Shearer.
Michael Owen, scorer of the sixth goal
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