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Paul Gascoigne has been axed from the England World Cup squad following coach Glenn Hoddle’s announcement of the final 22 players on Sunday, a day earlier than expected. Hoddle was due to reveal his 22 for the finals in France on Monday but has brought the announcement forward.

The England star will be devastated by the decision after playing in the last three warm-up games against Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Belgium. And it almost certainly signals the end of the international career of one of the most controversial figures in world sport. Gascoigne was widely expected to be at the hub of England’s midfield as Hoddle begins his bid to win the World Cup for England for the first time since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966.

It is thought that Hoddle was unwilling to risk Gascoigne’s fitness. The Middlesbrough star, bought for five million dollars from Rangers in March, was back in the headlines earlier this month after a night out in which he was pictured emerging from a club and eating a kebab in the early hours.

Hoddle himself spoke of his disappointment at the latest episode in the crazy life of one of the few genuine world-class players in Britain. And the England coach warned his star player that if he misbehaved again he would be out of his World Cup plans. Gascoigne appeared to take the warning and although he was not influential in the three warm-up games it did begin to look as though he was regaining his fitness.

But against Belgium in Casablanca on Friday, Gascoigne was caught on the head by a boot and had to go off for treatment. He returned wearing a bandage.

Then came another blow after he received a dead-leg in a tackle. Hoddle immediately took him off but said later that he thought he would be fit. Gascoigne appeared to be in tears after being substituted, as though he knew his World Cup could be over.