Paul Gascoigne knows a thing or two about starring at a World Cup for England.
The legendary midfielder’s iconic performances at Italia 90 have gone down in football folklore, from his dominant display against European champions the Netherlands to the semi-final tears that became a defining image of that summer.
Gascoigne never played at another World Cup, as the Three Lions failed to qualify in 1994 and he was left out of Glenn Hoddle’s squad for France 98, but he is nonetheless ranked no.2 on FourFourTwo's list of the best English midfielders ever.
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‘To do what he does…’ Paul Gascoigne gives England star seal of approval
The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Lazio star was also central to England’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 96 on home soil.
Until 2018, those two tournaments were the closest the Three Lions had come to winning a trophy since the 1960s, but they stand three wins away from ending 60 years of hurt - starting with Saturday’s World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Norway.
One of Thomas Tuchel’s star performers in North America has been Jude Bellingham, with the Real Madrid midfielder scoring four goals and providing an assist - including two goals to cap an outstanding performance against Mexico in the last 16.
Gascoigne sang the praises of his successor in England’s midfield as he promoted Sports Stars Stories: An Evening with Paul Gascoigne, a two-hour show at the Watford Palace Theatre on Saturday, September 26 in which Gazza will discuss the defining moments of his career and extraordinary life in the spotlight.
“He’s definitely caught my eye at the World Cup. Does he get my seal of approval? I think he absolutely does, yeah,” the 59-year-old said.
“To do what he does, you’ve got to have some good players around you; you cannot do it all on your own, and he’s got that. I was lucky, I had some great players around me that allowed me to express myself, players like Bryan Robson.
“Jude’s got my approval. I think he’s a good player."
Bellingham’s quickfire double in England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico took him to 10 goals for his country, the same number that Gascoigne scored. The 23-year-old is also close to surpassing Gascoigne's tally of caps - ahead of the clash with Norway he is four behind, on 53.
Gascoigne's status in English football goes beyond statistics, but if Bellingham continues to star for the Three Lions it won’t be long until he is talked about with the same reverence as his legendary predecessor.
Sports Stars Stories: An Evening with Paul Gascoigne takes place on Saturday 26th September at the Watford Palace Theatre. Tickets are priced from £35 and are on sale now. https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-paul-gascoigne/
