We want to beat the Italians says Gascoigne

The England vs Italy Legends match at the National Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 7 p.m.) will showcase a stellar collection of former football greats but if Paul Gascoigne's words are anything to go by, local fans can expect to see something more competitive than just exhibition fare.

Sporting blonde hair and a tanned face, Gascoigne landed in Malta yesterday afternoon on an Air Malta flight from Heathrow.

"I have a positive feeling about Thursday's match," Gascoigne said.

"It's England vs Italy. We got beaten by Italy in the 1990 World Cup (third-fourth place play-off).

"Several players from that 1990 World Cup side, the likes of Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle, will be in the English team for this match and that's fantastic.

"I'm looking forward to playing against Beppe Signori and all the other players turning out for Italy.

"This may look like a friendly to many but we want to beat the Italians," Gascoigne added.

England may have failed to win the 1990 World Cup in Italy - they lost to eventual winners Germany on penalties in the semi-finals - but in Gascoigne, they definitely had one of the undisputed stars of the tournament.

Widely regarded as one of the most technically-accomplished players of his generation, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Rangers. He was capped 57 times for England but his football brilliance was often overshadowed by his off-field antics.

The thousands of fans who are expected to make their way to Ta' Qali tomorrow will be keeping their fingers crossed that Gascoigne can turn back the clock with a sublime performance.

"The reception we receive here is fantastic," Gascoigne enthused.

"I was in Malta with my father a few months ago and it's great to be back for this massive event.

"I know that the Maltese are crazy about football. There are a lot of fans of English and Italian teams here. I've been told that there are also many Tottenham supporters," Gascoigne, who is popularly known as Gazza, said, referring to one of his former clubs.

"I hope that there will be a lot of young kids at the game because an occasion like this can encourage them to play football. It could inspire Maltese children to travel the world to play football and experience different cultures like I did when I was playing."

Invited to forecast the result of tomorrow's match, Gascoigne replied with a smile: "Three-nil to me."

Freddy Shepherd, the former Newcastle United chairman, and his son Kenny, travelled with Gascoigne to Malta yesterday ahead of tomorrow evening's 'gathering of the legends'.