Paul Gascoigne rarely watches football anymore — the pain of missing the game he loves is simply too great. But the FIFA World Cup 2026 proved too irresistible to ignore, and when he finally sat down to watch England's opening match, the emotions overwhelmed him.

"I was just sitting on the bed watching it, and I wasn't really thinking about anything," Gascoigne told Betway's YouTube channel Clutch 9 Football. "Then, once the first game went on, I got so emotional and had a few tears because all of a sudden it brought back all the memories from 1990, and everything I did every single day went through my head, and I couldn't sleep that night."

Gascoigne was one of the defining figures of England's iconic Italia 90 campaign, a run that ended in heartbreak at the semi-final stage. His tears on that Turin pitch remain one of football's most enduring images — and watching England compete on the world stage brought all of it rushing back.

Still convinced he can play

Despite the sleepless night, Gazza has kept watching — and he still carries the belief that he could hold his own at the highest level. "I still miss it badly," he admitted. "I still think I can play, even now. I look at some of the players earning £400,000 a week and they can't trap a bag of cement."

He was equally bullish about England's prospects in the tournament. "I didn't think I was going to watch much of it because I miss football so much, but some of the games have been unbelievable. Anyone can win it."

England face Mexico at the Azteca in Mexico City — a daunting test, with altitude and heat expected to sap the Three Lions' energy as the group stage progresses.

Tactical advice for Kane — channelling the Lineker blueprint

Gascoigne recalled a tactical instruction from manager Bobby Robson during Italia 90 that he believes Harry Kane should take to heart. "What Bobby Robson said to Gary Lineker, which was unbelievable, was, 'In the last 10 minutes of each game, we're going to get tired. I don't want you tired. I want you staying at the halfway line or five yards into our half. No more. We need your energy for the last 10 minutes'."

"If you see Lineker, so many of his goals were in the last 10 minutes," Gascoigne added. "You've got Harry Kane sometimes at centre-half." The implication was clear — Kane should conserve his energy and position himself to punish opponents late in games, rather than dropping deep to build play.

With Jude Bellingham, Kane, and Marcus Rashford all in the squad, Gascoigne believes England have the quality to challenge any nation. But he expressed regret over one notable absentee.

Foden's absence a source of frustration

"I think Phil Foden is quality," Gascoigne said. "I would have played Foden because he always wants the ball and he's got that sweet left foot." He even recalled a personal encounter with the Manchester City star: "I went in the England dressing room once and told Foden to give me his shirt and he gave me it."

Foden has not travelled to the tournament, leaving Gascoigne — and plenty of England supporters — wondering what might have been.