FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
Hoddle said that he had left Gascoigne out of his World Cup squad because of the player’s lack of fitness. But former England captain Robson said he was stunned by Hoddle’s explanation and pointed to Gascoigne’s contribution to Middlesbrough’s recent promotion run-in.
” I’m surprised, “ Robson said. ” Gazza is a top-quality player and is a player who can win you a game out of nothing, especially at the highest level — and that is what England are going into. ” He proved towards the end of the season for us that his fitness had no problems. He came through our last games with flying colours. ” He did really well for us—he was up and down the pitch. When he left us at the end of the season, he was getting very close to being 100 percent fit. ” And I know that England have had enough time to have trained and got Gazza’s fitness going. ” As far as I’m concerned, the speculation surrounding him smoking and eating a kebab was all blown out of proportion. “
Robson criticised Hoddle for the way he dealt with Gascoigne in England’s last few warm-up games to the finals. ” He needed to play a full game against Saudi Arabia and then have a bit of a break where he could train up to playing in the Morocco game, “ said the ‘Boro manager.
” But Glenn went the other way and asked Gazza to try and play in two of the three games, which is very demanding when you’re travelling to a game on the day of a game, so there was always the likelihood that he was going to pick up an injury. “
Robson revealed that he, too, had endured a similar heartache 18 years ago. ” I went through a disappointment like this in 1980, when I had an injury and Ron Greenwood left me out of the squad for the European Championship finals in Italy, “ he added.
” It’s a big disappointment, but he (Gascoigne) has only just turned 31 and he has still got plenty of football left in him. ” He has got to enjoy his football next season and prove his fitness because then you’ve got the Euro Championships coming up. ” But that is going to be no consolation to him after missing out on the World Cup finals—which is the one all footballers want to play in. “ ‘Boro fans also have criticised Hoddle’s decision to omit their midfielder from the final 22-man squad.
” Glenn Hoddle has made a gross error. I think everyone in the country would say Gascoigne should be in the squad if he is fit, “ said Middlesbrough Supporters’ Club secretary Simon Bolton. ” Teams due to play England will be happy because everyone knows Gazza is capable of destroying teams with a moment of brilliance. “