Gavin Willacy Reports ENGLAND Under-21s crashed out of the Toulon tournament in Manosoue, France after defeat by Argentina, the world champions at this level. While England fielded only three of the players knocked out of the World Under-20 Cup by Argentina a year ago, their opponents were virtually the same team that went on to beat Uruguay in the final. And boy did it show! The South Americans oozed class all over the pitch and could have won by at least twice the margin as England wearily accepted defeat almost as soon as Guerrero had made it 2-0 on 23 minutes. The goal came from a corner. Emile Heskey, back to defend, failed to control the ball on his chest as it flew into the box and Guerrero smashed a first-time volley past Ipswich's Richard Wright into the far corner. It was 1-0 after only six minutes, when the magnificent Quintana, a tiny number seven from Newell's Old Boys, was left in way too much space by the English defence and slotted a deft left-footed shot past Wright from close range. From then on, the result was in little doubt. Peter Taylor's side toiled away in the evening sun, bereft of ideas, skill, pace and - in the second half - good old English passion. Heskey made only one dangerous charge into the heart of Argentina's defence and showed little sign of his proven ability when confronted by robust defenders able to match his strength and crowd him out. His strike partner, Marcus Bent, making his full debut, started brightly but hardly got a touch after the break. Taylor desperately sent on both substitute strikers, Rory Allen and Jason Euell, and reverted from 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 formation as England's hopes of salvaging the draw they needed to qualify for the semi-finals slipped away. But the problems were not only a lack of support for Heskey. The only supply line was a barrage of utterly predictable long, lofted passes from the back, where Jamie Carragher and John Curtis, veterans of the World Youth Cup, otherwise excelled. Taylor's plan was to suffocate the South Americans' silky passing football by stringing five across the midfield but debutant Eddie Howe from Bournemouth and Forest's Alan Rogers were forced to play at full-back rather than as wide midfielders as England were pushed onto the back foot. Argentina's sublime movement in attack was the perfect target for the slide-rule passing of Roman Riquelme of Boca Juniors, so highly praised by Bobby Robson in Football365 recently. The stocky central midfielder pulled the strings for the Argentines and he looks destined to play a major part in Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup. As time ticked away, England's players looked like they were not too upset to be heading out and home rather than upping the tempo. The responsibility was shuffled around with painfully delayed passes going only sideways, or straight to Argentine defenders when the man in possession ran out of patience. Allen, so impressive in his recent loan spell at Luton that he may play a major role for Spurs next season, latched onto a rare mistake and raced away but screwed his shot across the face of goal. It was England's only second-half chance. The difference in quality between the two sides - Argentina were far quicker in mind and body - will have Glenn Hoddle wondering whether he wants to be around in four years time to manage this lot in full internationals, and hoping that this is not an omen for what could happen in France 98 next month. England: Wright(Ipswich); Howe (Bournemouth) (sub Euell (Wimbledon) 65m), Curtis (Man United), Carragher (Liverpool), Elliott (Derby) (sub Allen (Tottenham) 40m), Rogers (Nottm Forest), Dyer (Ipswich), Lampard (West Ham), Oakley (Southampton); Heskey (Leicester), Bent (Crystal Palace) (sub Kozluk (Derby) 50m).

GOULD PICKS A BABY BOYO   THERE are several surprises in Bobby Gould's Wales squad to play Malta and Tunisia next month, but one omission that is no shock is that of Ryan Giggs. There is a Ryan G. in the group though - Wolves' 17-year-old Ryan Green, who has amazingly being called-up despite not having played a first team match. The teenage defender could beat Giggs' record and become Wales' youngest-ever international. The Manchester United star made his international bow against Germany in October 1991 at just 17 years and 321 days. If Green plays in Malta or Tunisia, he will top that by more than 100 days, because he was born on October 28, 1980. Green, born in Cardiff like Giggs, was playing in a youth team practice match against Leicester when he was told he had been called up to Bobby Gould's squad. He admitted: ''I was shocked, it's amazing. People like Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs have been my heroes and now I could end up beating Giggs' record. It's hard to take in. To say it has all happened quickly for me would be an understatement." Gould has no fears about the youngster's ability to cope with the pace of the international game. ''When I first saw him in the Under-18 tournament in Rimini in April, he was outstanding, he claimed. He had vision, pace and great ability on the ball. When we took him back to Italy a few weeks later with the Under-21s, he was just as capable and confident. Our policy is to get the young players through quickly and it is no different to a club manager giving a kid the chance in an end-of-season trip. I'm confident Ryan will cope just fine.'' Also in the squad for the first time and even more bizarrely - is Manchester City midfielder Jim Whitley. Born in Zambia but educated in North Wales, he has already been in the full Northern Ireland squad with his younger brother Jeff - but was not capped. The Whitleys have British passports and, because they were born outside the UK, are eligible for all four home countries. The full squad: Marriott (Wrexham), Jones (Southampton), Jenkins (Huddersfield), Bowen (Charlton), Ready (QPR), Coleman (Fulham), Green (Wolves), Edwards (Bristol City), Pembridge (Sheff Wed), Savage (Leicester), Speed (Newcastle), Jim Whitley (Man City), Robinson (Charlton), Bellamy (Norwich), Llewellyn (Norwich), Hartson (West Ham), Howarth (Coventry), Saunders (Nottm For). On stand-by: Ward (Notts Co), Page (Watford), Symons (Man City), Jenkinson (St Johnstone), Trollope (Fulham), Andy Williams (Southampton), D Hughes (Southampton), Roberts (Norwich).

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