10 Famous World Cup Moments Involving Newcastle Players
2. Gazzas Tears In Turin (1990)
Two years after departing St James' Park for Tottenham in a deal that netted us £2.3 million, "Gazzamania" hit fever pitch at Italia 90 where he became a hugely popular figure in England as over 20 million people tuned in to watch the heavyweight semi-final clash with West Germany in Turin. Having already received a yellow card against Belgium in the second round, Gazza went into the game walking a tightrope that would inevitably snap as he picked up another booking for a needless foul on Thomas Berthold that would rule him out of the World Cup final were the Three Lions to triumph over the Germans. Television cameras immediately focused their lenses on Gazza and captured the teary-eyed devastation etched across a face that was growing progressively redder by the second as he toiled to conceal his anguish at the prospect of being deprived a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent his country on the biggest stage football has to offer. It was this spontaneous display of emotion that endeared him to a sympathetic British public and ensured there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
