A mixed reaction given to the big World Cup surprise

Everyone, it seemed, had their own different opinion of Glenn Hoddle's bold decision to omit Paul Gascoigne from his World Cup plans.

One of the Class of '66, Roger Hunt, believes that an England side without him will not repeat the nation's World Cup-winning performance of 32 years ago.

The ex-Liverpool player said: ''Without Gascoigne life will be extremely hard for the boys because he is such a focal point. They haven't been that impressive lately but they do need a fit Gascoigne to give them that extra cutting edge. Until we know the real reason for Gascoigne's omission there is very little we can say, but I am sure there is a good reason behind this.''

Sir Stanley Matthews was not surprised by Hoddle's brave decision, saying ''He has been missing from the first team at Rangers through injuries and since he has been at Middlesbrough he has not played all that well.''

His old team-mate Chris Waddle had an idea of how upset his fellow Geordie will be. ''Paul will be devastated. He lives for his football and he still believed he had it in him to turn it on in France,'' he said.

''Clearly he's had his problems but on his day he is still a player with genuine quality who could have helped us do well. However, clearly the England coach can't take a risk with his fitness and no-one will be more hurt by having to make this decision than Glenn Hoddle himself.''

Gary Mabbutt, Gascoigne's former captain at Tottenham, admitted: ''I'm amazed Gazza has been left out. All the signs have been that Hoddle has been backing him and now to suddenly ditch him seems to make no sense.

''I'm still struggling to realise this is true. Glenn's a very strong willed person and he's obviously got his reasons for thinking Gazza is not up to it. There may be a fitness thing that we don't know about.

''He's come back many times before when people have been saying he's not fit. In 1991 hedidn't play for Tottenham for eight weeks when he had a hernia operation and people said Terry Venables was mad to pick him for an FA Cup semi final against Arsenal.

''But Gazza is never more dangerous or fired up than when people are writing him off. In that Arsenal FA Cup semi-final he was right back to his best and won the tie for us. I believe he could have been a match-winner forEngland, too.

Trevor Steven, who played alongside Gascoigne for England and Rangers, said the midfielder would be completely shattered by the news, saying: ''He will not take this lightly. Knowing Paul he will be very devastated by the news. When the axe has fallen it has fallen on him and he will be devastated I am sure.

Another ex-Ranger, full back Gary Stevens, played with Gascoigne during the 1990 World Cup campaign and believes that Gazza should take some of the blame for Hoddle's final decision.

''I am surprised,'' Stevens said. ''He has had some bad press lately but I feel there should be room for him in a squad of 22 no matter what happens. But he has not set the best example to the world at large.''

Former Scotland manager Tommy Docherty was less diplomatic. ''It's the right decision,'' he began, ''but what has amazed me is that England have carried him for so long,''

''His attitude has been wrong and his behaviour over several years has to be questioned. England need a fit Gazza, but from what we've seen recently that is clearly not going to happen. Hoddle should have dumped him a while ago. He's maybe regretting leaving out Le Tissier now, and Ray Parlour.''

Final word came from his current manager, Bryan Robson, who admitted to being stunned by the England manager's decision.

''I'm surprised,'' he admitted. ''When Gazza's fit, he's the one who can do it at the highest level.

''He was all right when he was with us at Middlesbrough. He helped us win important games and could do that for England.''