The Incoming England manager, Glenn Hoddle, held a surprise first meeting with the players he is hoping to lead to World Cup glory in 1998 yesterday.

The former Chelsea manager, who officially takes over from Terry Venables on September 1st, had not been expected to get involved with the players until after this summer's European Championships.

Instead Venables has suggested that Hoddle should spend the summer spying on England's World Cup rivals, which include Italy, a request branded "a non sense" by World Cup legend Sir Bobby Charlton earlier this week.