No13 – Gazza’s tears (1990)
Paul Gascoigne was one of the most brilliant, combustible English players of his era.
In 1990, the year England made it through to the semi-finals, Gascoigne, along with Gary Lineker, were the stars. But in the semi against West Germany, Gascoigne was booked for a foul on Thomas Berthold. It was his second yellow card for the knock-out stage of the tournament, meaning he would miss the final.
As a result, Gascoigne started crying and needed a little hug from his English teammates. Luckily, England lost anyway, but Gascoigne’s teary episode remains a point of much mirth, and cemented his legend as an English sporting icon.