Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Lallana: Gazza’s goal is the only reminder I’ll need
ADAM LALLANA still remembers Gazza’s moment of Wembley magic – and insists beating Scotland still means as much as ever. The Liverpool midfielder (above) was only eight and watching TV when Paul Gascoigne scored his wonder goal against Scotland in Euro 96. Lallana also believes that England will rise to the occasion at Hampden Park because victory will go a long way to helping them secure qualification for the World Cup. He said: “Of course it means as much as ever. It’s an historic game. We proved in the fixture at Wembley how much it meant to us. We’ll be looking for another performance like that. “The Gazza moment sticks out in ’96. I was eight – It’ll be a great honour to play in these games. “Going back to Wembley last time in November, it was a big game. There were a big couple of games for England as a team at that stage. “We want the three points. We feel we’re in a good position at the moment, so we want to capitalise and put the season to bed. I know we have another match against France, but this is by far and away the most important one.” Lallana also believes that England can help restore some much needed pride and also give England back their identity after last summer’s crushing disappointment of the Euros. They face Scotland at Hampden Park and then France in Paris next Tuesday and Lallana believes the games can end the season on a high. Lallana added: “Last summer was a down moment in a lot of people’s careers, but it’s important we take whatever positives we can from it. We’ve been through that together. We know how it felt. “We’ve not shied away from the Iceland performance and we have learned from it. We’re in a good moment at the minute, since the boss has been here – session by session, we’re gaining our identity and where we want to go as a team. “These next two games are vital to keep pushing towards where we want to go. Qualifying for Russia and achieving something out there.”