Gary Lineker has recalled that special moment during Italia 90 when Paul Gascoigne began welling up after being booked in the World Cup semifinal against Germany.

In a tribute to Sir Bobby Robson, former Tottenham and Everton striker Lineker wrote in his Mail on Sunday column: "Such is the impact Bobby had on my life, the question I'm still asked most is who I was talking to and what was I saying when the camera zoomed in on me towards the end of the World Cup semi-final with Germany in 1990!

"The answer, of course, is Bobby. I had seen Gazza starting to blub after getting a yellow card that would have ruled him out of the final.

"I immediately tried to attract Bobby's attention in the dugout and said: 'Have a word with him.'

"It is hard to believe that incident was 19 years ago. Everyone still remembers it, I can assure you! I don't think we were aware during the Italia 90 World Cup the incredible reaction back home to our run to the semi-finals.

"It was madness when we got home.
"I think Bobby was surprised by it, too, but the good thing was that it made people realise what a brilliant manager he'd been for our country.

"He was a lion. In fact, he was three lions.

"And the game of football owes him such an awful lot. None of us should, or will, ever forget that."