Gazza's sob story

It was omission impossible. No one envisaged England would ever be Gazza-less in France 98.

But Gascoigne has gone, complete with sobs for the man-boy. To many fans England's Glenn Hoddle has committed the ultimate crime.

For all his bloated behaviour, Gascoigne was deemed England's most potent creator, a fulcrum to flourish in France. Now we will never know.

However, Hoddle was not alone in having misgivings over Gazza. Before the final outings in Morocco Gascoigne's fitness was said to be only 40 per cent.

In never appeared much greater in Casablanca. Now its a question of here's not looking at you kid. His England career is surely at an end, the wounded one fittingly leaving the field prematurely against Belgium, his head swathed in bandages.

Initial reports from the England camp suggested the decision was based "purely on football". How ironic when, at his best, Gascoigne was the purest of talents.

But the dynamism, the bursts of malevolent pace and the ability to dissect defences, have been diluted to the point when his influence on recent England performances has been minimal.

Could Hoddle, such a champion of physical well-being, have risked a struggling Gascoigne, his powers on the wane, in the most demanding of international tournaments?

Some bleat that even a half fit Gascoigne would be preferable to many a yeoman of stouter legs. While there is some credence to that claim, that is not the point. England need 22 good men and true.

The World Cup is an unforgiving event to anyone not 100 per cent fit. If anyone need reminding they should contact Gazza's current club boss Bryan Robson and inquire about his Mexico misery of 1986.

Whether the bombshell is proved correct only the next month will reveal. But Hoddle, who has always been gentle with Gascoigne, deserves recognition and respect for the bravery of his decision.

His axing of the Middlesbrough man will antagonise more England followers than it will placate. But he has shown that he is the absolute man in charge, and that he will not be dictated to, nor deflected from, what he sees fit for England's assault on the World Cup.

Hoddle has shown enormous strength of character. Gascoigne now needs to do the same.

Sadly on the world stage Gazza will only be remembered for the crying game. Sobs flowed in a Italia 90 when he broke the hearts of a nation. Sobs now heave in 98 when his own heart has been shattered.

Who was it who said it will all end in tears?

Now his next match could be against York!

Soccer star Paul Gascoigne today escaped the world's media as controversy continued to rage over his shock omission from England's World Cup squad.

The "devastated" footballer was stony-faced and silent as he drove his wife and son away from their Hertfordshire home.

His first appearance in public since news broke that he was not in the squad for the tournament finals in France came as celebrity friends spoke out emotionally in his defence and a number of opinion polls showed support for coach Glenn Hoddle's move.

Gascoigne emerged from the home of estranged wife Sheryl in the village of Stanstead Abbots at 11.40am wearing a bright orange sports top and blue tracksuit bottoms.

He stepped briskly from the house and got into the driver's seat of a red Range Rover.

Seconds earlier, Sheryl carried the couple's two-year-old son to the rear of the car and placed him in a child's safety seat.

The star had spent the morning behind tightly-drawn curtains and blinds at the house.

Just as he was about to step into the car, fan Derek Risk, 19, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, placed his arm on the footballer's shoulder and said: "All right Paul? Sorry about the England team."

Later Mr Risk said: "He said to me 'All right mate'.''

But Gascoigne refused to acknowledge a crowd of photographers and journalists waiting outside.

Now one of Gazza's next games could be at York City's Bootham Crescent ground, instead of the capacity Stade Velodrome in Marseilles, where England play their first World Cup game against Tunisia.

Gascoigne is likely to line up for Middlesbrough against York City in a testimonial game for City manager Alan Little on July 29.

The game will be played before a maximum crowd of around 9,000, in contrast with the 60,000 capacity of the Marseilles stadium.

Meanwhile, villagers in Hurworth, near Darlington, just over the border from North Yorkshire, are bracing themselves for the possible arrival of Gazza as a new resident.

Rumours are sweeping the village, north of Northallerton, that the Middlesbrough star in about to splash out £300,000 on a new home on the village green.

Gascoigne, 31, arrived back in Britain last night after storming out of England's base in La Manga, Spain, following a row with England coach Hoddle.

He reportedly hurled abuse at Hoddle and walked out, leaving his luggage behind, to catch the first plane home to seek consolation from the woman who is divorcing him.

After being driven to the house in Stanstead Abbots, near Ware, Hertfordshire, he warned reporters: "Don't try and knock at the door or ring the bell."

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