Kieron Dyer - International Career

International Career

After representing England at Youth, Under 21 and 'B' level, Dyer's debut for the senior team came on 4 September 1999, when he started in England's 6–0 win against Luxembourg. He was deployed out of position at right back, and was replaced by Gary Neville at half time after injuring himself while setting-up Alan Shearer's third goal of the game. The injury was not serious and he was able to make his second England appearance four days later, coming on as a late substitute for Steve McManaman in a 0–0 draw with Poland. England qualified for the Euro 2000 competition but Dyer was not selected for the squad for the tournament, though he had recovered from injury and taken part in pre-tournament friendlies against Argentina and Ukraine. Along with a number of other young players who failed to make the squad – including Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Duberry, Jody Morris and Jonathan Woodgate – Dyer took a drunken holiday to the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa. The holiday hit the headlines when a video of Dyer, Ferdinand and Lampard having sex with a number of women was leaked to The News of the World. Shortly after the story broke it was revealed that Dyer had spent a night in hospital after being glassed in the face during a fight in an Ipswich night club.

Dyer returned to the England squad for the first game after Euro 2000 for the first qualifier for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, against Germany; the last ever football match at Wembley Stadium. England lost 1–0, and manager Kevin Keegan resigned afterwards.

Despite having played only 45 minutes of qualifying and 45 minutes of football under new national manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, Dyer was named in the squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Two days after the squad was announced, Dyer suffered knee ligament damage after being tackled by Tahar El Khalej in a league game against Southampton, but he recovered just in time to remain in the squad. He made three appearances, all as substitute, in the tournament, until England were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Brazil.

Dyer played in several of Euro 2004 qualifiers but only had 7 minutes on the pitch at Euro 2004, coming on as a late replacement for Wayne Rooney in England's second group game against Switzerland. After making some appearances during England's FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying Dyer's run in the England squad was ended by the recurrence of a hamstring injury while playing against Middlesbrough.

After almost two years without making an appearance for England, Dyer's form for Newcastle earned him a call up to Steve McClaren's England starting line-up for a friendly against Spain in February 2007. His most recent appearance for England came in a 2–1 friendly defeat to Germany in August 2007, Dyer replacing Alan Smith in the second half.