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Friday, May 29, 1998 Published at 10:41 GMT 11:41 UK


Sport: Football

Striking the Wright balance

Enzo Scifo hits the post for Belgium in their 1-0 defeat by England in the 1990 World Cup

Les Ferdinand or Dion Dublin?

That is the question dominating England's final warm-up match before coach Glenn Hoddle announces his World Cup squad, against Belgium in the King Hassan II Cup.

The untimely hamstring injury that has ruled Ian Wright out of the finals leaves a two-way fight for the last remaining place up front.


[ image: D-day for Dion... Dublin or Ferdinand?]
D-day for Dion... Dublin or Ferdinand?
With Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and Michael Owen all but assured of their positions in the squad, Ferdinand and Dublin now know what is required of them.

Coventry's Dublin began Wednesday's 1-0 win over Morocco and may have edged ahead of Tottenham's Ferdinand in the reckoning for France.

But Hoddle may be tempted to start in Casablanca with his first-choice strikeforce of Shearer and Sheringham to give them some much-needed match practice - before bringing on either of the fringe players at half-time.


[ image: Fight for Ferdinand ... Two players go for one place]
Fight for Ferdinand ... Two players go for one place
A number of other squad members - including Middlesbrough's Paul Merson, Nicky Butt of Manchester United and West Ham teenager Rio Ferdinand - have not featured in England's two friendlies this week.

So the Belgium game provides Hoddle with an ideal opportunity to offer at least some of them one last chance to impress.

Owen, the goalscoring hero against Morocco on Wednesday, will be rested after being knocked unconscious earlier in Wednesday's match.

Merson is likely to get a run-out and Hoddle may want another look at Paul Gascoigne, who went some way to proving his fitness against Morocco, but still failed to impose himself on the midfield.

Like England, Belgium - who are spearheaded by PSV Eindhoven danger man Luc Nilis - were less than impressive in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat against France and will be looking for a considerable improvement.

While never out-played against the World Cup hosts, Georges Leekens' team were well short of the cool efficiency that saw them knock out the Republic of Ireland in the France 98 play-offs.



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