Twenty five years ago the national game was unloved and beset by problems. One event – the performance of the England team at the Italia 1990 World Cup – changed everything. At its heart was the young Paul Gascoigne – a player who had come to prominence with his hometown club Newcastle United and emerged on the international scene to set the tournament alight. As England heroically bowed out, losing their semi-final to West Germany, Gascoigne captured the hearts of the nation and a star was born.
Over the next decade, ‘Gazza’ underlined his status as one of the world’s most gifted footballers, enjoying spells with Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio in Italy, Glasgow Rangers, and once again taking England to the brink of glory, this time on home soil at Euro ‘96.
Gascoigne the film is the definitive story, in his own words, behind the personal struggles off the pitch and his success on it. With revealing contributions from Gary Lineker, Jose Mourinho and Wayne Rooney it celebrates Gascoigne’s unique talent which captivated a generation of football fans.
Gascoigne is out in cinemas today.
