Tony Banks: "Sport is crueller than politics"

Mr Banks said: "I think the national coach Glenn Hoddle has to be congratulated for his decision.

"It was a very brave decision. My own feeling is that it was the right one."

Banks: Expects England to do even better

Speaking to the House of Commons, Mr Banks said that "sport is even crueller than politics".

"If you get it wrong, retributions follows very quickly," he said to laughter from the MPs.

"We have to keep our fingers crossed that it was the right decision.

"I expect the English team to do even better now, even with the personal tragedy surrounding the footballing exclusion of that great character Gazza."

Evans denies leading Gazza astray

Evans: Drinking sessions with Gascoigne

The player's showbusiness friend DJ Chris Evans rejected criticisms that he had been partly to blame for Gascoigne's drinking sessions.

He said the Middlesbrough midfielder was a "grown man" who had earned his place over the last ten years.

Chris Evans: "Is he not still one of the best footballers in England?"

Urging fans "not to be angry" at the decision, he said: "Gazza will be devastated, devastated, and that's the most important thing this morning, the rest is just not important."

"The public are going mad," said Mr Evans. "I just can't believe that he is not one of the best 22 players, regardless of whether he had a chicken kebab or not. "For him to not be in the squad, it's disgusting."

Football world split

Football's pundits are split on what many of them see as a huge gamble by Glenn Hoddle.

Terry Butcher: support for Gazza

Former England captain Terry Butcher said: "He has got excesses off the pitch but when it comes to playing football for England he's very determined.

Butcher: Commends Gazza's "drive"

"I don't know any footballer who has the same drive to get fit and do well on the pitch as Paul Gascoigne."

Trevor Steven, who played with Gascoigne for Rangers and England, said: "There's still two and a half weeks before kick-off.

Trevor Steven: "There should have been a place"

"Paul has something that nobody else can offer the team and I would have just given him that time."

Former Spurs team-mate Gary Mabbutt said: "All the signs have been that Hoddle has been backing him.

"Now to suddenly ditch him seems to make no sense.

"I'm still struggling to realise this is true."

England great Sir Stanley Matthews backed Glenn Hoddle, saying: "(Gascoigne) has not been the same player he was two years ago.

Sir Stanley: Gazza "not the same player"

"He has been missing from the first team at Rangers through injuries.

"Since he has been at Middlesbrough he has not played all that well. You have got to take players who are in form."

Former Scotland manager Tommy Docherty said: "It's the right decision, 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.

"Hoddle should have dumped him a while ago. He's maybe regretting leaving out Le Tissier now, and Ray Parlour."

Simon Bolton, secretary of the Middlesbrough Supporters Club, said: "Glenn Hoddle has made a gross error. I think everybody in the country would say that if Paul's fit, he should be in the squad.

"I'm sure the teams due to play England will be really happy.

"Everybody knows what he's capable of and that is destroying teams with a moment of brilliance."

'Professionals bounce back'

Professor Cary Cooper, professor of occupational psychology at Manchester University, said he believed Gazza would bounce back.

He said: "In every profession, whether it is actors or footballers, if they don't get the part or get selected, they will feel rejected.