Cole scored 25 goals in all competitions for United during a campaign in which the club challenged at the top of English football. His 15 Premier League goals also placed him among England’s leading scorers in the division.
Yet Glenn Hoddle left him out, selecting Michael Owen, Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand and Paul Merson among his attacking options. Cole’s argument is straightforward: his output compared favourably with several of the forwards chosen ahead of him.
“If you look at everyone else's goal return that year, I'm not sure how many got 25 goals,” Cole said. “That's when the shenanigans started with Glenn Hoddle.”
It remains one of the most debated omissions in England’s recent tournament history. Owen would become one of the defining figures of the competition, but Cole’s club form gave him a compelling claim to be on the plane.
Cole’s frustration was not limited to Hoddle. His relationship with Sheringham had already been strained after Cole recalled feeling snubbed when he made his England debut.
The pair later spent four years together at Manchester United, but Cole said they did not speak unless they were arguing. That uneasy partnership added another layer to an already difficult international experience.
“When I got left out, I had to laugh to myself,” Cole added. “I had to. I knew I should have been going to that World Cup. I knew, if it wasn't for the politics involved in the football, I'd have gone to the World Cup.”
Cole won 15 England caps and scored once, a modest international return for a striker who produced consistently at club level.
The next chapter in this old debate is not about changing the squad, but reassessing the decision. As England’s tournament selections continue to be scrutinised, Cole’s omission remains a reminder that club form does not always guarantee international recognition.