England Ian Wright's World Cup dream was shattered here on Thursday night as coach Glenn Hoddle was forced to rule the Arsenal striker out of his France 98 squad. The 34-year-old went down hurt after 24 minutes of Wednesday's 1-0 win over Morocco in the Hassan II tournament in Casablanca.

Wright was coming to grips with a Moroccan defender when he collapsed as if he had been shot, with his left hamstring immediately encased in ice as he was escorted to the dressing room. Hoddle had hoped that the injury was not as serious as first thought, and a terse Wright was not limping as he left the Mohamed V Stadium to fly back to England's World Cup training base in La Manga, Spain, on Wednesday night. But a scan carried out by medical experts on Thursday confirmed the worst and the injury requires a minimum two week recovery period. Wright, who had pinned so many hopes on finally making it to the World Cup finals, will be devastated at what looks likethe end of his international career, although his thoughts were as much for the players he was leaving behind.

Inside German Camp
Klinsmann injured

Germany's star striker Jurgen Klinsmann is doubtful for Saturday's international against Colombia in Frankfurt however defender Thomas Helmer will definitely be missing. Both were flown out of Germany's pre-World Cup training camp in Helsinki to Munich on Wednesday for medical examinations and received their bad news on the same day. Klinsmann has a badly bruised calf muscle, unwillingly inflicted by fellow striker Ulf Kirsten during a training exercise.

"The calf muscle is swollen which is not a problem," the blonde player said. "I will be able to start training again on Friday but it's touch and go whether I will make it in time for Saturday against Colombia. "It will only take a few days to mend. My place for the World Cup is not in danger."

That is not the case with Helmer, whose prognosis is somewhat worse. He has a muscle tear in his thighwhich could bring with it a compulsory two week rest period, placing his World Cup nomination in jeopardy.

Germany struggled to a 0-0 draw Wednesday against Finland with the players complaining they could do no better because of tiredness from 10 days of constant, hard training behind them. Coach Berti Vogts however was critical of this explanation and said his men would be better off shutting their mouths and just running a bit harder. "I am disappointed," Vogts said bluntly.

Inside French Camp
French look tired

France have made numerous changes because of tired squad members for their match against Morocco in the Hassan II tournament here on Friday night. France beat Belgium 1-0 in the Mohamed V stadium on Wednesday but coach Aime Jacquet has decided to completely reshuffle the side. Jacquet picked six players -- keeper Bernard Lama, Christian Karembeu, Franck Leboeuf, Vincent Candela, Alain Boghossian and Bernard Diomede -- who did not play in the first match against the Belgians.

TheFrench Cuppa Quick Sips

Japan's "toothless" striker

Shoji Jo, who has taken over from Kazu Miura as Japan's ace striker, has kicked off World Cup camp training in Europe with swollen cheeks after having two wisdom teeth pulled out at home on Monday.

"I wasn't sure how the dentists would treat me over here," the 22-year-old Yokohama Marios forward told reporters in the Swiss town of Nyon as the Japanese squad began training there. "The swelling will go away in a few days and all I need is to become a handsome man," quipped the baby-faced Jo. He had already lost two teeth after being elbowed by South Korean forward Yoo Sang-Chul in a match in which he hit Japan's winner in a 2-1 victory in the Far East Dynasty Cup in March.

World Cup is not everything

Japan's debut in the World Cup finals has sparked a battle in the country's publishing industry, with about 80 book and video titles featuring the premier football event. The number is expected to top 100 with the arrival of extramagazine editions and special TV guides.

"It is definitely a state of oversupply," said Yukie Ushigome, in charge of Sports publications at Kinokuniya, a leading book shop. She said the Japanese-language edition of the official World Cup magazine and a book of quotations from Japan's ace playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata were selling well.

The book, entitled Nakata Speaks, has sold 180,000 copies sinceit was released this month. "The World Cup is not everything in life," the 21-year-old reclusive mid-fielder says.

Great Expectations: Group A

Toppers: Brazil
Runners-up: Norway
The X-factor: Morocco
Key match: Norway v Scotland,
which may decide 2nd qualifier from Group A

This is a group where winning is not exactly a problem. Brazil are on a song with a brilliant side and even better record; Norway didn't lose even once while qualifying for the France '98 and Scotland lost just one game while qualifying. But what willbother Brazil is that one of their five losses since they last won the Cup in 1994 came against Norway. Though in a World Cup there is no such thing as a sure winner, Brazil is as close as anyone can come. Norway could be the second in group on the strength of their defence and it remains to be seen if Scotland can defy history and make it past the first stage. But watch out for Morocco, which in 1986 established itself as the first real African threat to Europe and South America by topping its Group ahead of England.

BRAZIL

Coach: Mario Zagallo
Key Players: F Ronaldo, F Romario, F Leonardo, M Dunga, M Giovanni, D Roberto Carlos
Past Appearances: (15) 1930-94
Glory Times: Wins in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994
Points in their favour