XtraTime Web Desk: Legendary England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has told the current team that the key to winning Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia is to “play as if you were 10 years of age.”
Talking to British newspaper the Daily Mirror, Gascoigne said: “They have to play like I did, for the crowd, for the fans. If they are struggling, the fans will cheer them on. Just play for England, for the fans.”
England manager Gareth Southgate – a team-mate of Gascoigne’s at Euro 96 – will perhaps sound a note of caution before his side takes the advice to heart.
Gascoigne played in the England team that lost the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup on penalties to West Germany – the last time England reached that stage of the competition before now.
His perhaps over-eager style earned him a yellow card that would have seen him banned from the final had England made it – and led to the midfielder – known universally as “Gazza” – breaking down in tears in the middle of the game.