Gazza explains what Gareth Southgate is really like and jokes about £30k advert

20 June 2024 , 00:00

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Paul Gascoigne wants England to release the handbrake at Euro 2024 (Image: Tim Merry/Mirror Express)

Paul Gascoigne has joked that “quiet” Gareth Southgate’s Euro 96 penalty miss led him to bigger and better things - including the England manager’s job.

In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Gazza recalled Southgate’s place in the squad at the home Euros and claimed that his spot-kick heartbreak in the semi-final against Germany at Wembley led to him getting a £30,000 pizza advert.

And while Southgate may have long shown he is a dab hand at keeping his cards close to his chest, Toon legend Gascoigne is calling on the current England manager to permit Jude Bellingham with the freedom to play his own game.

Gazza said: "At Euro 96, there was a great atmosphere in the team hotel. Gareth Southgate, David Batty and Stuart Pearce would be playing cards, I would be playing snooker with Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler.

"Southgate was quiet, a great defender, solid in training and really well organised. I always joke that I scored my penalty in the semi, and ended up in rehab. He missed and got a £30,000 pizza advert and the England manager's job.”

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England’s 1-0 win against Serbia last Sunday may not have been entirely convincing, with a new-look defence holding out after a promising start from an attack packed with sublime talent.

But Gascoigne believes the squad must place less emphasis on a safety-first approach if they are to become kings of Berlin on July 14.

"In the big tournaments against world class players, the French, Germans, Italians, there is no holding back," he added. "England have to go for it more, take more risks, we need to be less conservative and go for it more.

Paul Gascoigne with his former team-mate Gareth Southgate.

"Terry Venables allowed me to express myself. I think Gareth will do the same with Bellingham. I say let someone have a go, it gets the crowd going, and everyone is behind you; if you have 40,000 roaring you on, you hear it then."

England face Denmark at 5pm BST on Thursday knowing that another win would confirm their place in the round of 16 with a group game, versus Slovenia on Tuesday, still to play.

Jeremy Armstrong