FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Ian Wright’s World Cup dreams hang by a thread after the Arsenal striker was injured in England’s 1-0 win over Morocco here on Wednesday night.

Wright, only recently back in action after a groin problem, injured a hamstring midway through the first-half and had to go off. The 34-year-old, desperate to make in into coach Glen Hoddles final squad for France ‘98, now must wait 48 hours for the medical report on just how serious the injury is.

Hoddle is refusing to be drawn on whether or not the dream is over for Wright and a scan sometime on Friday will go a long way to making up his mind.

Hoddle said : “The good thing is that after the game Ian is not feeling as bad as when the injury first happened. “He had to come off but the after-match reaction was a bit more optimistic than when he first had to leave the field. “ We’re not sure at this juncture whether the hamstring is torn or not.

Evidence of that will show up when he has had a scan after 48 hours. “People ask me how long he’s going to be out and all I will say at this stage is: ‘let’s wait and see.’ I am not prepared to say whether he is out or in. “I will assess things after 48 hours and will give him to the weekend. I am not making a decision on my World Cup squad until June 1 and so I would be silly to do that as regards Ian as things stand.”  There is no doubt that Wright would be shattered if his last chance of playing on footballs’ greatest stage is cruelly wrestled from his grasp in such a manner.

“He often talks of the pride he feels when wearing the three Lions and in Italy was the player who came within inches of earning England a memorable victory when his shot cannoned off a post in injury time.”