FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
Angry England coach Glenn Hoddle gave midfielder Paul Gascoigne a final warning on Tuesday-let me down again and you’re out of the World Cup.
Hoddle is furious at the latest example of Gascoigne’s inability to keep himself out of the wrong kind of headlines. Seen out on the town in London with pop superstar Rod Stewart at the weekend, Gascoigne was then spotted out eating a kebab in the early hours of Sunday morning.
After Hoddle had publicly urged Gascoigne to get his house in order, the response was hardly what he wanted or expected. That was why the England coach ” forcefully ” told Gascoigne that his international career will end before the World Cup finals in France if he does not behave. And that included a clear warning that he faces the boot from the World Cup if he is spotted out on the town with British showbiz pals.
” We had a good long chat, “ said Hoddle. ” Paul knows the situation and what’s being asked of him. He knows exactly. ” The things he’s done this week weren’t under my wing. When I’m not there I can’t control him, just like the other England managers couldn’t. ” We can’t be on his shoulder all the time. You can ask him and try to get him to see the situation. ” Paul definitely understands where I’m coming from. He knows I’m disappointed in what I’ve seen and that I’m disappointed I’ve had to have a word with him.
” He’s apologised and knows what the next stage is. He’s never let us down when he’s put an England shirt on, never let us down at the training ground or in the hotel. ” If he had stepped out of line under my jurisdiction he’d have been hammered a long time ago. He hasn’t because if he had behaved like this under me he wouldn’t be with us, no. ” But at the end of the day there’s a set of guidelines. If anybody steps over those guidelines they will be dealt with. “
Those guidelines extend into the week after England return from their pre-France trip to La Manga and Morocco. ” The players will be going home, but they’ll still be on England duty and they can’t afford to jeopardise that, “ said Hoddle, revealing Gascoigne is ” 40 percent away “ from full match-fitness. ” I can change the 22 on June 9 if I want to, “ he added. ” That is the time for being with your family, not for nightclubbing. ” You don’t have to go to a pub or a nightclub. He has to do what’s in line with being on England duty. If not, I’ll take him home with me! “ That was a joke, but still contained he starkest of warnings.
Gascoigne himself revealed Hoddle had been annoyed with him when the pair talked. ” I can see why he was upset and angry, because it was spread all over the papers might upset the England camp, and because it was not at the right time, ” said Gascoigne, before turning defensive. ” But it was just one night. I went out for two nights in 16 and got slaughtered. I can’t understand why that happens, just because I go out and have a kebab. ” What’s wrong with having a kebab anyway? We’re talking about one night. ” I’m sure a lot of the other guys were having a drink as well. The difference is that they haven’t got a camera up their backsides all the time. ” I get all this fuss about everything I do. It p….s me off. “
But Hoddle said: ” Paul needs to be fitter. What’s disappointed me is that he hasn’t kept himself fit between internationals. “