Football: Gascoigne fails to convince Hoddle

England will be going to France without the man who has been called both saviour and imposter

who has been called both saviour and imposter

By Glenn Moore in La Manga

PAUL GASCOIGNE will today join Gianfranco Zola, David Ginola and Juninho in the World Cup wilderness. The 31-year-old, who won his 57th England cap on Friday, is the victim of the boldest decision of Glenn Hoddle's management career.

Gascoigne was personally told that he was out of the squad by Hoddle last night. The announcement will be made officially today. Also out of the England 22 are Dion Dublin, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Ian Walker and Andy Hinchcliffe - who has a groin injury. The FA were last night attempting to get the players home before this afternoon's official press conference.

Hoddle will explain his reasoning then. All that emerged last night is that the decision has been taken on "football and fitness'' grounds.

It is a decision which could easily rebound on Hoddle. Gascoigne, on current form, is not worth a place in the side. If he does play it upsets the whole balance of the team. However, recent England matches without Gascoigne have highlighted the team's lack of creativity and it is a surprise that he has not been included in the squad. He may not be fit but he could have been a useful substitute.

Now a replacement has to be found, and it is a bit late in the day to start looking. Apart from a low-key friendly against a French club side England will not play again until they open their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on 15 June.

There are several candidates, none of them convincing. David Beckham can see and play a pass but he has not got the pace and dribbling skills to go by people. The reverse applies to Steve McManaman. Paul Merson has a greater range of talents but often struggles to impose himself on the game. Paul Scholes is a possibility but he is very inexperienced. Which leaves Darren Anderton, the last player of the 40 to be capped by Hoddle. He may still be feeling his way back into regular football but he can attack defences with the ball or pass it through them.

Merson was the main beneficiary of Gascoigne's departure and Nicky Butt the other casualty. With Gascoigne out Hoddle is unlikely to be so reliant on the defensive midfield axis of Paul Ince and David Batty which means Butt is not needed as cover.

Of the other omitted players Walker was expected to go after Nigel Martyn's performance in Casablanca and Hinchcliffe has evidently joined Ian Wright, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler on the injured list. In his absence it is a little surprising that Phil Neville is not included as cover for Graeme Le Saux but his impetuous performance against Belguim probably counted against him.

One young player has been included, Rio Ferdinand. He is unlikely to play but will be able to have a taste of the unique pressures of the World Cup - none of the current party have experienced them. His inclusion spelt the end for Dion Dublin whose ability to play centre-half as well as centre forward was no longer needed.

Selection was further complicated by Fifa's rejection of the coaches' request that the third goalkeeper should be regarded as a 23rd man. He could be left at home on stand-by but, were David Seaman to suffer a slight strain he would be ruled out of the rest of the tournament if Hoddle called up the third 'keeper.

Third-choice 'keepers rarely play but most of Hoddle's counterparts had already decided that this was risk not worth taking. He agreed. This left 19 places to be filled by outfield men, not quite enough to have straight cover in every position.

Hoddle said before this week's trip to Spain and Morocco that he only had two places to fill. This has not been reflected by his constant experimenting with 28 players, four captains and two different formations being tried. Now, at last, he has made up his mind. This is how he did so.

GOALKEEPERS: David Seaman is the undisputed first choice. Tim Flowers, his shoulder injury having healed, is the likely understudy though he will be challenged by Nigel Martyn whose form and experience gave him the nod over Ian Walker.

DEFENDERS: After Hoddle's brief flirtation with a back four against Belgium he intends to revert to playing three centre-halves and wing-backs. The first-choice back three is Tony Adams in the centre, Sol Campbell on the left, and either Gary Neville, Martin Keown or Gareth Southgate on the right. All five will go to France. This should be enough but Rio Ferdinand will be taken to benefit from the experience as Brazil did with Ronaldo in 1994.

On the flanks Hoddle usually picks an attacking player on the right and a defensive one on the left. This will be Graeme Le Saux. If he is injured or suspended Steve McManaman, or Paul Merson, may find themselves out left.

MIDFIELDERS: Paul Gascoigne was the hard choice, leaving him out improves the balance of the side. Hoddle no longer has to play Ince and Batty so there was no need to take Nicky Butt. This probably clinched Rob Lee's place. The first choice right flank wing-back position is between David Beckham and Darren Anderton. The latter was one of the few players to impress in the last week's matches and Hoddle has been convinced of his fitness. The decision to include both Paul Merson and Steve McManaman also followed from the axing of Gascoigne.

STRIKERS: Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham have long been certainties and will probably start against Tunisia. Michael Owen's dramatic arrival on the England scene clinched another place in the squad while Ian Wright's injury opened one up. This was contested by Les Ferdinand, who ended the final warm-up match as captain, and Dion Dublin. Ferdinand's superior pace and experience was preferred to Dublin's versatility and heart.