Alan Shearer breaks silence on the Paul Gascoigne Euro 96 aeroplane ‘slap’ that inadvertently galvanised Terry Venables’ England squad

Paul Gascoigne of England (left) practices. Behind him are teammates Alan Shearer (centre) and David Beckham (right) who are waiting their turn during England training at Bisham Abbey in Marlow. Inset picture of Paul Gascoigne pulling a face while chewing gum. With a Cathay Pacific 747 plane on the right of the image.

Paul Gascoigne was asleep. In all likelihood, in recovery mode following his 29th birthday celebrations that marked the end of England’s Euro ‘96 warm-up games in China and Hong Kong.

England were flying home. The previous night had been spent in Hong Kong’s Jump club where famously the centrepiece was a dentist's chair in which patrons stars sat prone, and alcohol was poured down their throats. 

Some of England’s squad took part. Photos made the front page of the tabloids (“I only went in for a filling,” Paul Gascoigne later quipped to FFT), and it was generally bad look for the team back home on the eve of a major tournament.