Paul Gascoigne has called on England to recapture the “unbelievable” team spirit of the 1990 World Cup squad as Thomas Tuchel’s side prepares for the 2026 tournament, saying unity and enjoyment will be decisive if the Three Lions are to end a 60-year wait for glory. Speaking to ITV following the publication of his new autobiography, the 59-year-old former midfielder reflected on Bobby Robson’s team that reached the semi-finals in Italy before losing on penalties to eventual champions West Germany. Gascoigne, who won 57 caps and was a central figure in that run, said the most important ingredient in 1990 was that every player bought into the collective effort, with those who did not play fully backing the team from the sidelines.
“You want 11 captains on the pitch and when you are playing in a game like that, at a World Cup, you cannot afford to carry anyone,” Gascoigne explained. “Everyone has to be on the ball and the team spirit is important. The players that didn’t play, they were right behind the team, so our team spirit was unbelievable. The most important thing is team spirit because that goes a long way”. England have won the World Cup just once, in 1966 on home soil, and the only time they have reached the semi-finals since 1990 was under Gareth Southgate in 2018.
Gascoigne’s message to the current squad was simple: embrace the moment. “Enjoy it. Because you just never know it could be your last World Cup,” he said. He famously burst into tears after being booked in the 1990 semi-final, a caution that would have ruled him out of the final had England progressed. That image became one of the defining memories of Italia 90, a tournament that reignited the country’s affection for the national team after years of underachievement.
Tuchel’s men face Costa Rica in their final friendly on Wednesday before opening their Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. Gascoigne, who has spoken candidly about his battles with addiction, said life is going well and described himself as the happiest he has been in five years. He added that readers of his autobiography have told him the book “saved their life,” a response that reinforced his belief that sharing his story has been worthwhile.
For England, the challenge in 2026 is to translate talent into togetherness. Gascoigne’s recollections serve as a reminder that technical quality alone is not enough on the World Cup stage. The 1990 side fell agonizingly short, yet its spirit endured in public memory and set a benchmark for camaraderie that later squads have chased. As the tournament approaches, Gascoigne hopes this generation can channel that same collective resolve and, crucially, enjoy the journey while it lasts.
