ENGLAND's World Cup squad suffered its first serious blow of the finals yesterday with Gareth Southgate admitting he is a major doubt for their second Group G game, against Romania on Monday. The Aston Villa star, who produced a solid display in the win over Tunisia, has a swollen ankle following a fall during training on Tuesday afternoon. What makes the news particularly frustrating for the England manager Glenn Hoddle and the player is that the freak accident occurred right at the end of the session, when a few of the team stayed on for a light-hearted kickaround. Unless there is a marked improvement in the ankle's condition over the next 48 hours - it is still badly bruised - then Southgate will miss the clash with the Romanians. And that means Gary Neville, like his Manchester United teammate David Beckham, a late casualty in Hoddle's starting line-up to face Tunisia, will be favourite to resume an international career that has so far reaped 27 caps. Hoddle may of course prefer to play safe by selecting Martin Keown alongside Arsenal team-mate Tony Adams, or gamble on West Ham teenager Rio Ferdinand - but Neville must to be the favourite to fill Southgate's shoes. Unlucky Southgate confirmed: "There must be a doubt about myself being able to recover in time for the match with Romania. It is my own fault in a way, because I could have gone straight off the pitch after a lively training session. But I decided to take part in a warm-down in which we were knocking balls backwards and forwards to each other and I over-stretched and turned the ankle." The only consolation for Southgate is he is confident of being available to face Colombia next Friday - if he can force his way back into the team, that is. He said: "I have had problems with this ankle in the past, but the one comfort I can take now is that I don't see it being long term. If I miss the Romanian game, then I would be very confident of being fit for the match with Colombia." Meanwhile Neville, whose younger brother Phil narrowly missed out on the squad, is determined to take his chance if it arises. The United star said: "It was a big disappointment not to play in the first game. I really wanted to be in the starting 11, but it was not to be. You can go two ways when that sort of thing happens. You can take it on the chin or crumble, and I aim to go the first way and have been working even harder this week." Neville also pointed to the sky-high confidence in the French camp when he claimed that England were good enough to beat Brazil. The Manchester United defender was among the England players who made the short trip to Nantes to see the defending champions thrash Morocco on Tuesday. Neville saw plenty that impressed him, but just as importantly, felt Neville, were the signs the South Americans were not impregnable. And the defender is convinced England have the firepower to upset the favourites if they meet them in the next three weeks. "They were excellent on Tuesday and they've got brilliant players," accepted Neville. "But with the players we've got, I'd fancy us to do them damage, as long as we don't show the fear we have in the past. Teams will create chances against them. You've got to take those chances and have a little bit of luck. "I'm sure Brazil can be beaten and that we can beat them. We'd love them in the final - though we'd take anybody in the final!"

ENGLAND'S MIDFIELD WALL OF PASSION   ENGLAND'S midfield generals have been basking in the glory of Monday's win over Tunisia and thanking each other for being there! David Batty and Paul Ince were water-tight in Marseille, allowing Paul Scholes to indulge his talent in front of them. "I've never wanted for another midfield partner," Batty admitted. "You always want them to be fit - and Incie's one of the fittest - and aggressive. You can't ask for more than that and Paul's perfect. There is a lot of trust in our partnership. I know where he is and he knows where I am." Ince was quick to add his appreciation of the Newcastle midfield tiger who has flourished since he returned to the England team under Glenn Hoddle. "He's always there when I need him," said the Liverpool star. "It's a very good partnership. Batts gives me the chance to go forward - I can't bomb up there all the time, but I know that if I do go, David Batty's behind me." England skipper Alan Shearer, who has played with Batty at Blackburn and Newcastle for the last five years, thinks his teammate is world class. "Batts, for me, is one of the most underrated players around. He has tremendous ability. His passing is second to none. Both he and Ince are very strong and they can mix it with the best. Put them together, and not many people would want to play against them every week." Ince's efforts against Tunisia were typically massive, and there is more reason for him to put that little bit more into every moment of the World Cup than some of his colleagues. "It took a long time for me to get here," he confessed. "And now I'm here I'm going to make the most of it. I'm enjoying every moment and I know it's important that I take it all in. "I might not be here again in four years' time, so I'm savouring it. I love being with the lads, love the banter and everything. So I'm goping to enjoy it." Another five performances like last Monday's and he could be enjoying a World Cup Final appearance.

TOULOUSE BANS BOOZE IMMEDIATELY		BEANZ MEANZ DAFT
TOULOUSE has brought forward a curfew barring late opening of pubs and restaurants by 48 hours after an early invasion of the city by England football supporters. The original plan to shut down all cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants at 11pm every night from Saturday until after England's World Cup clash with Romania on Monday evening was scrapped, as thousands arrived into the French city last night. And that meant the curfew was enforced by the authorities immediately amid concern at the considerable numbers of England fans already in the area four days before the Group G game kicks off. Toulouse has been put on red alert after the disgraceful scenes in the days leading up to England's opening match of the tournament with Tunisia in Marseille on Monday. The ban on booze is designed to minimise the possibility of more trouble and avoid the kind of confrontations which saw some English fans charged and being jailed by French magistrates. A statement issued yesterday by the World Cup organisers said: "Considering the risk of trouble due to the progressive arrival of English hooligans in Toulouse, an order of the Prefect has confirmed that all cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants of the city will close at 11pm. This will come into effect from today instead of Saturday, as had previously been suggested by the Mayor of Toulouse.''		Following the shock news that England have banned our brave if windy lads from eating baked beans, football365 says, �Why stop there?' Here, then, is our list of ten other things Glenn Hoddle should ban 1 David Beckham from not shaving. The words �fluff' and �bum' come to mind. 2 Paul Ince from wearing a woolly hat while training under the baking French sun. Is he mad? 3 Martin Keown from the training pitch disco warm-ups. Like your dad getting down to �Hi Ho Silver Lining' at your big sister's wedding. 4 Ray Stubbs' behind-the-scenes interviews. Do we really care who is best at the driving machine ? 5 Hordes of French kids in oversize T-shirts hassling Darren Anderton for his autograph. A debilitating wrist injury must surely be on the cards. 6 Rob Lee from nicking all the mini shower soaps and sewing kits from the rooms. Then again, he's got nothing else to do has he? 7 Hoddle shadow and press officer, David Davies, from wearing those skinny-fit, hooped, polo shirts. Talk about gut reaction. 8 Gary Neville telling the world he'd really like to have a one-on-one chat on the phone with Adolf Hitler. True. 9 Teddy Sheringham from wearing his baseball cap back to front in public. Adolescent surf-punk with 'tude he aint. 10 Alan Shearer's personality. Oh, he's done that already. For more ridiculous, if slightly more amusing, World Cup lists visit the fun & features section of our web-site: www.football365.co.uk

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