WE IN this country have a long history of mishandling extremely gifted players. Though to be fair, they also have a tendency to mishandle themselves, prime examples being George Best and Paul Gascoigne. But even when the talent comes along in a less maverick form, there is something about the British character that suspects it.

Glenn Hoddle will know what I mean. When he was in his early twenties, and quite obviously special, a great debate took place rather than a great celebration. After a startling international debut, graced by a goal stroked into Bulgaria's net from the edge of the area, he was dropped by then England manager Ron Greenwood, who explained that Hoddle was "one for the future". Reservations about his workrate meant he was widely regarded as a luxury player and, although Danny Blanchflower - a distinguished predecessor in the Tottenham midfield - seemed to have neatly demolished the argument by observing that "it is the bad players who are luxuries", Hoddle obtained only half the century of caps his magnificent long passing merited. He was never quite accepted by England in the manner that, say, Italy cherished his nearest equivalent, the elegant Giancarlo Antognoni, who made a major contribution to their successful World Cup campaign in 1982.