THREE in four England fans believe that Alan Shearer should not start the opening game against Portugal.

The other one in four want their heads examining.

For Shearer is more of a spent force than a Bloo Loo after a thousand pulls of the chain.

It's not that he's no longer in the first flush of youth, more that international football looks an increasing drain on his limited enthusiasm.

Some would go even further with the analogy.

Regular Premiership observers have known for some time that Shearer has lost appetite and the edge which once made him the most feared striker in world football.

The optimistic hoped that he was operating his usual selfish streak in a bid to save himself for the big stage.

The realists knew different.

However, those same realists realised that Kevin Keegan does not live in the real world of international coaching.

And that's why Shearer will line up alongside Michael Owen on Monday.

The decision creates a weakness that will prevent an England success in the tournament.

Look at all the winners of major championships over recent years -- there are no glaring weaknesses in any positions.

But, whatever side Keegan selects, the shortcomings will be all too obvious.

The major skills gap is down the left hand side. That's why he should play a 3-5-2, if only to minimise our imbalance on that flank.

Such a formation would allow Steve McManaman to sit in the hole behind the front two but would mean that Paul Scholes, one of two holding central midfielders, would have to sacrifice his more offensive instincts.

For the other midfielder we are torn between the short fuse of Dennis Wise and the short fuse of Paul Ince.

Neither inspire but, tempers excepted, neither should be shown up.

For the wide men, I think that Nicky Barmby is good enough and industrious enough to play on the left.

On the right, the gormless one is good enough but his workrate depends whether Scorpio is in the same orbit as Sagittarius.

A back three of Gareth Southgate, Tony Adams and Sol Campbell almost picks itself, as Martin Keown would be exposed at this level.

So, who to partner Michael Owen?

If the old adage that the game of football is best played standing upright, it seems ridiculous to put Emile Heskey's name forward. For never has any sack of King Edwards been so ready to find the comfort of terra firma.

My first choice would be Robbie Fowler but, judging by the fact that he did not start against Malta, I can only presume he is not fit.

Even so, Keegan's policy of not picking his first choice side for these warm-up games is baffling.

Who has got the most out of their final run-out -- an almost full strength France in beating Morocco 5-1 or a piecemeal England scraping home against Malta?

Kevin Phillips is not yet ready for international football.

And I am far from being a fan but Heskey has some qualities and if, as seems likely, England continue to deploy the out-dated tactical get-out of hitting the front two early, he is as good as anyone bar Chris Sutton at holding the ball up.

It would also be interesting to see if such a selection would hold up Shearer's retirement until a time when he deserves a rest for his exertions at international level.