A former Manchester United star was not selected by England partly because of one of his team-mates – who he says he ‘detested’ for 15 years.
In preparation for the 1998 World Cup, England manager Glenn Hoddle faced several crucial decisions regarding the selection of his squad for the tournament.
One of the most surprising choices was the exclusion of the iconic Paul Gascoigne, who later disclosed that he ‘went berserk’ in Hoddle’s room upon learning the news.
Instead, Ian Wright was chosen, with the Arsenal forward joining a striking lineup that included Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, and a young Michael Owen.
The striker who did not make the final selection was Andy Cole from Manchester United, who had netted 25 goals across all competitions in the previous season. He was not even considered for the squad after Wright sustained an injury before the tournament.
Cole primarily played alongside Teddy Sheringham that season, and the duo established a formidable partnership, despite never communicating verbally.
Cole’s animosity towards his fellow England teammate began when Sheringham declined to shake hands with him as he substituted him during his debut for the Three Lions in 1995.
Writing in a column for The Independent in 2010, he stated: “From that moment on, I knew Sheringham was not for me.
“Two years later, after Eric Cantona left United, Sheringham arrived. We played together for years. We scored a lot of goals. I never spoke a single word to him.
“I wouldn’t ever cast aspersions on Sheringham’s talent as a top-rate footballer for his clubs and country. I’ve just loathed him personally for 15 years.
“I would rather sit down and have a cuppa with Neil Ruddock, who broke my leg in two places in 1996, than with Teddy Sheringham.”
Hoddle later said that he didn’t select Cole for the World Cup because he ‘required five chances to score’.
England were knocked out at the round of 16 stage by Argentina – famous for David Beckham’s red card after kicking out at Diego Simeone – and Hoddle was sacked a year later over remarks made about disabled people.
He returned to management with Southampton, before a two-year spell with Tottenham Hotspur starting in 2001.
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