Source: Telegraph
England must not pressure Wayne Rooney before World Cup, says Paul Gascoigne
At just 23-years-old, Gascoigne was launched into the spotlight at Italia '90, but he insists that the experienced team he had around him saved too much pressure being put on his shoulders. [LNB]Rooney will be 24 at the finals in South Africa next summer, but already much has been made about how much the nation expects from the Manchester United striker. [LNB] Related ArticlesEnglish football must grow up or 2018 bid is doomedTony Blair could rescue 2018 World Cup bidCalls for Lineker to save England's 2018 campaignKarren Brady lifts lid on 2018 'bickering'Richards exits the limelightSport on televisionVoicing his concerns, Gascoigne told the Mirror: "I was one of the most fortunate players in the world because I was 23 years-old and Peter Beardsley, Bryan Robson and the rest of the team were in their prime. [LNB]"The help I got from them was fantastic and they took the pressure off me so I could go out and really enjoy it. [LNB]"With Rooney everyone is expecting him to go out and win the World Cup for England."[LNB]Not denying that Fabio Capello's men have what it takes to go all the way next year, Gascoigne pointed out that anything could happen between now and England's first group game. [LNB]"I'm like every England fan; of course I want England to win it," he added. "We have a great squad but playing in the World Cup finals, it's a case of bottle more than anything else. [LNB]"It's about who is available at the time, so touch wood, none of the squad gets injured. But some of the players are starting to play brilliantly - Jermain Defoe scoring five goals the other day was fantastic. [LNB]"They have done well in qualifying for the World Cup, but when you get there it's a different matter. It's completely different, as they found against Brazil the other week, and that's what they will have to face." [LNB]
