BY mid-morning today, when Scotland's World Cup squad for France will be known, the names missing will perhaps be as significant as those who are included. Some will have been sent home to try again.

However, that will not apply to others on the edge of selection, like Ally McCoist, Tosh McKinlay, and Stuart McCall, none of whom will be sprightly enough to be considered for another World Cup finale. In the case of players like Scott Booth and Eoin Jess, hopefully, there would be further opportunities to live that ambition.

National team manager Craig Brown and his assistant Alex Miller have thrashed out their choices for the final preparation games against Colombia and USA, and when the pool for these games is announced today it will also cover the finals in France next month.

The main problem area for the management is in the striking department, where Gordon Durie and Kevin Gallacher are first choice but where there is room for debate otherwise.

Darren Jackson has had a curtailed season after a serious head operation and then an in-and-out time in the Celtic side, while McCoist, despite a stimulating return to the Rangers team a few weeks ago, has not kept his place in the starting line-up. Even so, the fact that Booth did not impress for Utrecht, where he is on loan from Borussia Dortmund, on Sunday, may sway the vote in favour of the Rangers old stager. Simon Donnelly's ability to play behind the front line makes him a special asset who also has youth on his side.

Another intriguing area is in goal, where the choice of third keeper behind Jim Leighton and Andy Goram lies between two excellent contenders. The likelihood is that Neil Sullivan will pip Jonathan Gould to that spot.

Whoever Brown picks, it will be time to put aside the debate and get on with the great adventure.

Meanwhile, bizarrely, England coach Glenn Hoddle has told Paul Gascoigne he can smoke his way through the World Cup.

The former Rangers man has rediscovered the nicotine habit as he helped new club, Middlesbrough, win promotion to the Premiership.

The England coach pointed to the likes of Ossie Ardiles and Gianluca Vialli and made it clear he would not interfere with Gascoigne's personal habits. ''I want Paul to be 100% physically and mentally, and I've always said he's got to meet me half-way on that,'' said Hoddle.''In his last four performances for us he's been terrific. Paul's been smoking since he was in Rome with Lazio, six or seven years. If I tried to stop him for three weeks now it might have an adverse effect.''

Hoddle's squad for the friendly against Saudi Arabia at Wembley on May 23, and the Hassan II International Cup games with Morocco on May 27 and Belgium on May 29 is:

Seaman (Arsenal), Walker (Tottenham), Martyn (Leeds), Flowers (Blackburn), G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Man Utd), Southgate (Aston Villa), Adams (Arsenal), Keown (Arsenal), Campbell (Tottenham), Le Saux (Chelsea), Hinchcliffe (Sheff Wed), R Ferdinand (West Ham), Beckham (Man Utd), Ince (Liverpool), Lee (Newcastle), Gascoigne (Middlesbrough), Batty (Newcastle), Butt (Man Utd), Redknapp (Liverpool), Scholes (Man Utd), Anderton (Tottenham), Merson (Middlesbrough), McManaman (Liverpool), Shearer (Newcastle), Sheringham (Man Utd), Owen (Liverpool), Dublin (Coventry), Wright (Arsenal), L Ferdinand (Spurs).