A CHORUS of boos greeted the end of a desperately disappointing display by England in their last appearance at Wembley before the start of the World Cup. Of course, it isn't the end yet, not even the beginning, but this was the sort of France 98 send-off nobody had envisaged. Glenn Hoddle sent out a side containing at least six of the men he plans to start against Tunisia in Marseille in just 23 days' time. But against a Saudi side seemingly certain of a first-round exit (they were held by French club side Cannes in a recent warm-up), England lacked invention and looked vulnerable at the back, and could easily have lost. The Saudi side coached by Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira, had almost as many clear-cut openings as Hoddle's men, Sami Al-Jaber and Saeed Al-Owairan causing real problems, although surely Alan Shearer will be sharper when it matters. Not even the introduction of a clearly far-from-fit Paul Gascoigne and Ian Wright with half an hour left, could alter the fact that none of the other finalists are going to be shaking with fear. The apologetic way Hoddle's squad paraded at the end summed up the display, arguably the worst of his reign. Even without Gascoigne in the starting line-up, it was expected that England would create some openings but their struggle to take what they did create must be a concern. Even more worrying ahead of France was how easily they were opened up by the visitors. Gascoigne's absence put the onus on David Beckham pushed inside with Darren Anderton back after two injury-plagued years on the right to prove he can control an international game. For that to happen, England needed penetration out wide, with Anderton and Andy Hinchcliffe urged to push on, and when the Tottenham man's centre was headed over by Hinchcliffe as early as the third minute, things looked good. The Sheffield Wednesday full back then almost found the unmarked Teddy Sheringham, before a Paul Scholes nod-down from Hinchcliffe saw Beckham blast over. Scholes, set up by Sheringham's looped pass, tested the wobbly Mohammed Al-Daye in the Saudi goal and Hoddle's version of total football looked on track, as men broke from deep with David Batty willing to hold. First, Tony Adams broke up a Saudi attack to get on the end of Sheringham's 20th minute return, only to tread on the ball. And, a minute later, when Sheringham released Shearer to charge down the right and cross just beyond the Manchester United striker, it was Gareth Southgate, up in support, who stuck out a left leg to poke the ball at Al-Daye. Sheringham, picked out by Shearer after Beckham had clipped the ball up to the skipper, then hit the keeper when he might have done better. Yet where that should have been the launching pad, England started to lose their sense of direction and conviction, and the visitors, less than sensational themselves, took advantage. Saeed Al-Owairan's wonder strike against Belgium had been the goal of USA 94, and he served notice of his intent with a 20-yarder that stung David Seaman's fingers. And as England took their foot off the gas, it was Al-Owairan and fellow frontman Sami Al-Jaber who took the initiative. Al-Jaber sidefooted at Seaman after Al-Owairan had been too clever for Gary Neville, while Hinchcliffe's afternoon became increasingly uncomfortable. And when Al-Jaber danced round Southgate to drive for goal, the Arsenal goalkeeper was relieved that Al-Owairan's punch into the net was spotted. Hoddle's anger was evident, and rightly so, and when Shearer blasted high and wide after Scholes had flicked on, the boos rang round Wembley. Soon afterwards, Anderton was made to look silly by Hussein Solaimani, and Adams was beaten to the ball by Al-Owairan, whose poke flashed past Seaman into the side-netting. England needed an improvement, a goal even more so, which could have come three minutes after the break, when Sheringham chased down the ball, after Scholes had gone down looking for a penalty. Sheringham played it to Beckham, he clipped first time towards Shearer on the left, but the skipper's downward header was held by the diving Al-Daye. The introduction of Gascoigne and Wright on the hour, neither of whom had played for England since that famous night in Rome, changed the mood. But with Gazza clearly well short of fitness, Anderton's legs gone and frustration growing, the Saudis sensed a famous victory. And it was so close in the 72nd minute. Al-Jaber left both Neville and Adams on their backsides and whipped in a cross, but Southgate did enough to half-block Al-Owaiaran, before Hinchcliffe scrambled it away. Hinchcliffe and Shearer then made way for Phil Neville and Les Ferdinand with 15 minutes to go, and England belatedly picked up the pace. Wright, sent in on goal by Gary Neville's super ball, might have stolen it with seven minutes left, instead firing at Al-Daye's legs. Then Gascoigne whistled one wide from 25 yards, before finding the younger Neville, whose cross was nodded onto the roof of the net by Wright. But it was the Saudis who should have stolen it at the death. When Southgate was turned inside out by Al-Jaber, his blushes were spared by Ibrahim Al-Shahrani's wasteful cross-shot. The boos cascaded round Wembley when the whistle went seconds later. It will be a long hard slog to get it right in three weeks.

ENGLAND PLAYER RATINGS   David Seaman Called into action more often than Glenn Hoddle would have liked, but performed his task with the usual confidence and safe handling 7/10 Gary Neville Normally one of England's most assured performers, he had his hands full with Solaimani down the right and didn't have much opportunity to get forward 6. Andy Hinchcliffe His World Cup hopes are probably gone after this. Failed to deliver the quality crosses he was specifically selected for and, like the rest of the defence, was unconvincing at the back. It was no surprise when he was substituted after 74 minutes 5 David Batty Another typical Batty performance with plenty of effort and commitment that allowed others to play around him. Even made one surging 40-yard run into the area that almost produced a goal 7 Tony Adams Not one of the Arsenal skipper's best displays for England. The Saudis' neat skills often left him exposed in a game he'll gladly forget 6 Gareth Southgate Almost got his first goal for England on a rare excursion over the halfway line in the first half, but didn't develop a good understanding with Adams 6 David Beckham Looked much happier in his preferred central midfield role and linked promisingly with Darren Anderton in the early stages. Was substituted to make way for Paul Gascoigne 6 Darren Anderton Started brightly in his first international since the Euro 96 semi-finals, but he not unexpectedly - faded and was sometimes exposed defensively 6 Alan Shearer Uncharacteristic miss in the first half summed up an off-day for the England skipper. Worked as hard as ever, but looked as frustrated by the lack of service here as he does for Newcastle 6 Teddy Sheringham Wasted a great chance after 28 minutes when he only had the goalkeeper to beat and was only a peripheral figure. Was subbed after an hour 5 Paul Scholes Forced one good save from the goalkeeper in the first half and looked full of running, but couldn't unlock the defence 6 Paul Gascoigne (on for Beckham after 60mins): Saw plenty of the ball when he came on and had one long-range shot on target and another that flashed past the post 6 Ian Wright (on for Sheringham after 60mins) As enthusiastic as ever. The keeper did well to save one shot and he sent a header from Philip Neville's cross just over 6 Philip Neville (on for Hinchcliffe after 74mins) Did well in his limited action, supplying the cross from which Wright went close 6 Les Ferdinand (on for Shearer after 74mins) Struggled to get into the game and got no more joy than the man he replaced 5

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