A prodigal talent at Newcastle United, Paul Gascoigne became a household name in 1990, very much becoming the face of England’s Italia ’90 campaign.
The playmaker was rarely far from the headlines, a jovial presence within the Three Lions camp and a source of boundless energy on the pitch. He laid on key assists for Mark Wright, David Platt and Gary Lineker en route to the semi-finals.
Against Germany, Gazza put in a full-blooded, all-action performance, but was cautioned during the match: a previous booking against Belgium meant that, should England reach the final, Gascoigne would be suspended.
His tears in the immediate aftermath, and further emotional outpouring when England were knocked out on penalties, endeared him to the English public.
Such was his rising profile, Gazza was lampooned on the popular programme Spitting Image. The satirical sketch show was a largely political affair, but the fact that Gascoigne (and teammate Lineker) were the subject of light-hearted mockery shows the cultural cut-through of the tournament.
As part of various sketches, the Gascoigne puppet would frequently burst into tears. He even had a song dedicated to him, named Cry, Gazza, Cry.
