Wright has a role to play in this squad but it is not alongside Shearer

Wright has a role to play in this squad, but it is not alongside Shearer.So Hoddle has learned that. He may also have accepted that Gareth Southgate is still some way from being a Continental-style sweeper. Until one emerges, or Jamie Redknapp is given the chance to convert, the fitness of Tony Adams, who makes up in presence for what he lacks in finesse, will be closely monitored.On the left side Sol Campbell, after an uncertain start, was excellent, his strength and mobility make him ideally suited to the marking role with only his concentration a concern. The Shearer/Sheringham combination has produced 16 goals in 17 hours and 42 minutes. Hoddle, Terry Venables and Graham Taylor have each tried to pair Wright and Shearer and each failed. In six hours and 21 minutes together, against seven different teams, the partnership have managed one goal.

Then he and Shearer released Teddy Sheringham on the right and his cross, fumbled by Fabien Barthez, was touched in by Shearer.Sheringham’s arrival increased the options, Shearer and Wright had been hitting each other’s space and testing the impressive French defence only on the topic of offside. Had Wright finished better after Shearer and David Beckham set him up, it would have worked after 41 minutes.A further 44 minutes later it did, though only after becoming more sophisticated. Paul Gascoigne showed the way, passing along the ground to Beckham, breaking from midfield after 73 minutes. Whatever you think of the tactic of attempting to hit Ian Wright and Alan Shearer over the top (“predictable” is one view) it was calculated to test a square French defence unused to playing together. In February there was a big difference between Italy and England, last week – I watched on TV – England played the same Italian team and were much better.”Saturday showed a different side of England’s game, the ability to eke out wins without playing particularly well.

They were not poor but they must now be judged by the standards they set against Italy and by that mark they disappointed.The impressive elements were the defensive strength, the ability to recover from a poor start, and the thoroughness of the preparation. On Saturday, after their first success over Italy in 20 years, and in Poland in 31, England gained their first victory in France since 1949. Even the phlegmatic Shearer must now be tempted to dream of another June fixture in Paris, a year’s hence, a (whisper it quietly) World Cup final.Of course, we must not get carried away Things can change very quickly in sport. Brazil may expose England’s flaws and pretensions just as they did in the Umbro Cup at Wembley two years ago. England improved from there to reach the last four of Euro 96 and their continued progress suggests that, whatever tomorrow night’s result, they will be formidable opposition in a year’s time.Chelsea’s Franck Lebouef, who sat in the stands at Wembley when England lost to Italy in February, and on the French bench on Saturday, said: “England’s players have learned a lot over the last year, especially tactically They improve every game. In a game ridden with cliches, “you haven’t won anything yet” comes to mind.But they have, they have won match after match, the best run since 1986. These are the mantras Glenn Hoddle and Alan Shearer are repeating and the players affect to listen.

reports from Montpellier

France 0 England 1
And so to Paris, to face Brazil. Even in mid-winter, following a run of defeats, it would be an enticing fixture. In summertime, after six wins on the trot, it is one to savour.England are understandably buoyant after Saturday’s 1-0 win over France here “Keep your feet on the ground” “Maintain a level head”. Women’s singles: 6-4 Hingis, Graf, 6-1 Seles, 16-1 Novotna, 20-1 Majoli, 25-1 Davenport, Sanchez-Vicario, Pierce, 33-1 bar.. Boris Becker, is 6-1 second favourite, with Tim Henman 33- 1.US OPEN (Congressional Country Club, starts Thursday): 5-1 Woods (Coral, Ladbroke’s), 14-1 Norman (Tote), 16-1 Price (Hill’s, T, L), 20-1 Faldo (T), Montgomerie (H, T, L), Lehman (T, C), 25-1 Mickelson (H, L), 33-1 Els (L), Elkington (L), Olazabal (H, T), Woosnam (T, C), Faxon (C, H, T), O’Meara (C), 40-1 bar.WIMBLEDON (Ladbrokes): Men’s singles: 5-4 Sampras, 6-1 Becker, 7-1 Krajicek, 8-1 Ivanisevic, 16-1 Philippoussis, 20-1 Kafelnikov, Rafter, 33-1 Henman, Chang, Enqvist, Martin, Stich, 40-1 bar. Roberts (50-1, Hills) put together three consistent rounds to be well placed going into the final round of the Kemper Open last night, while Stankowski (33-1, Coral/Hills), whose promise has been overlooked in the hubbub surrounding Woods, may be ready to emerge from Tiger’s shadow.Pete Sampras may have failed yet again to complete the set of Grand Slam events in the French Open, but he is a firm favourite with Ladbrokes for Wimbledon. But two players who appeal at healthy odds are Loren Roberts and Paul Stankowski.

Europeans, even those like Nick Faldo who base themselves in the States, have a dreadful record in this event, and both he and Colin Montgomerie, a perennial failure in the majors, are easily ignored.Last year’s winner, Steve Jones, started the week at three-figure odds, while several other winners have been almost impossible to predict, so bets are best kept to a minimum. While it is still almost unthinkable that he might succeed, another step along the road would make plenty of bookies very nervous. Woods was tipped in this column at 14-1 to win the Masters, but it may be many years before the Tiger is again available at such a price. Ladbrokes and Coral, at 5-1, are the most generous of the big high-street layers, while the Tote offer just 3-1 against him, but even these poor rates of return are unlikely to deter backers from playing up their Augusta winnings.
It is hard to get away from Woods as one for the short-list at 5-1, but in such a competitive field, and with such a hot favourite, there must also be some value further down the list. For this reason alone it would be wonderful to see Tiger Woods win the US Open and thereby move halfway towards the Grand Slam. Woods has been backed to win all four of the major tournaments at all rates from 500-1 – before his runaway victory in the Masters – down to as short as 14-1 this morning.