Young Michael Owen showed he can be at the centre of England's footballing future, but it is also clear how much Glenn Hoddle needs Paul Gascoigne as England's World Cup year started with defeat.

Marcelo Salas showed what Alex Ferguson has missed out on with a sensational opening goal just before the break, caressing Jose Luis Sierra's classy ball on his thigh before thumping it past Nigel Martyn on the volley.

And the £12 million Lazio signing confirmed Hoddle's third defeat in 15 matches as England boss when he prompted Sol Campbell into conceding the clearest penalty 12 minutes from time, converting past Martyn with the minimum of fuss.

Those stunning blows, leaving the Wembley crowd in silent disbelief, came after Owen, writing himself into English football's history books as the youngest international of the 20th century (breaking Duncan Edwards' modern era record by 124 days at just 18 years and 59 days), had given clear hints of his promise.

Only a superb save by impressive goalkeeper Nelson Tapia denied the Anfield striker the sort of start the Roy of the Rovers story writers would have blanched at.

Owen, playing with fellow new boy Dion Dublin after Andy Cole was sent back to Manchester with a thigh strain, never ceased in his efforts, a live wire, buzzing nuisance demonstrating his potential to one and all.

But with Gascoigne left out and Alan Shearer only returning for the last quarter, England failed to show the quality they will need in France.

True, there were openings, Dublin going close, Owen too, with substitute Paul Ince also foiled.

Yet just as they had against Italy almost exactly a year ago, England desperately missed Gascoigne's brushes with genius; they were all huff and puff without looking like blowing the Chilean house down.

At the other end, Campbell gave his least assuring England display yet, skipper Tony Adams and Gary Neville hardly were impressive either. Also, Teddy Sheringham drifted out of the match for long spells.

And while Hoddle has said a defeat or two on the road to France will not concern him too much, only Owen's enthusiasm generated any real buzz with just four months to go.

Hoddle had mixed feelings about his side's performance but was delighted with the way Owen and Dublin adapted to the big stage.

"The two lads up front did themselves a lot of good on their debuts against what was a very good side," he said.

"Dion did a lot of good things and expressed himself well and Michael showed a mature performance for a young man and did some exciting things."

But Hoddle was upset at the way England conceded the first goal to Salas. "We were very unprofessional in the way that we let them break from our own corner and score. I was very annoyed about that at half-time," he said.

"Right from the first whistle I felt we weren't really on our toes, as we have been since I took over.

"We didn't approach the game in the manner that perhaps we wanted and we will certainly be analysing that performance and seeing where we can improve.

"On the night Chile deserved to win the game. They passed the ball well and had better movement than us. But we've put a bit of an experimental side out and there were still some big pluses.

"But it's brought us down to earth, which perhaps isn't a bad thing. It'll certainly make people sit up and think that the World Cup isn't going to be a stroll as some people - the public and the media - might be thinking."

Owen admitted: "We didn't play well. I was quite pleased with my own performance on my debut but the result spoiled it.

"I had one chance saved quite early, which Dion laid off to me, and I hit it with the outside of my foot. Looking back I should have gone for power instead of trying to place it."

Dublin was thrilled to have made his debut, but, like Owen, the result was an anti-climax. "It was my first England appearance at any level and to be out there in the white shirt was amazing," said the Coventry star.

"But the result was very disappointing. We made silly mistakes and our passing wasn't as good as it could have been.

"Michael did well and I thought I did okay as well. It was our first game and I just hope we get a chance to improve on this result in the future."

England: Martyn, G Neville, Campbell, Batty (Ince 62), Adams, P Neville (Le Saux 46), Lee, Butt, Dublin, Sheringham (Shearer 62), Owen. Subs Not Used: Southgate, Hislop, Gascoigne, McManaman. Booked: Ince.

Chile: Tapia, Villarroel, Reyes, Fuentes, Margas, Rojas, Parraguez, Acuna, Sierra (Valenzuela 88), Barrera (Carreno 77), Salas. Subs Not Used: Ramirez, Cornejo, Vega, Galdames, Rozental. Booked: Salas. Goals: Salas 45, 79 pen. Referee: R Wojcik (Poland).