Without Italia '90, there would have been no glitzy Premier League and the subsequent boom in English football that lasted three decades. And without a largely-forgotten friendly at Wembley 30 years ago this weekend, there would have been no Italia '90 in the sense of Paul Gascoigne and England changing history.

The legend of Gazza has grown so large it's almost inconceivable to realise he wasn't assured of a place in Bobby Robson's England team just six weeks before the World Cup started.

Yet a friendly against Czechoslovakia on April 25 represented only his second start in a Three Lions shirt, and his eighth cap overall. Robson admired the Tottenham player's talent but was concerned about his stamina levels and lack of tactical discipline. He also had the luxury of having Manchester United captain Bryan Robson and Liverpool title winner Steve McMahon as high-class alternatives.

Paul Gascoigne's genius in a friendly prior to Italia '90 secured his place in England's squad

England boss Bobby Robson previous had concerns over Gazza's fitness and tactical discipline

Robson also had the talent and experience of Bryan Robson and Steve McMahon to call upon

It wasn't exactly Gazzamania when his big opportunity arrived. Just 21,000 traipsed to Wembley with expectations and excitement levels low. English clubs were still out of Europe because of hooliganism and the last major championship at Euro '88 had ended in catastrophe; three games, three defeats.

Given the prevailing mood, it's no exaggeration to say that what happened in the next 90 minutes changed everything and proved a vital forerunner to Italy later that summer.

It was the first time Gazza completed a full game for England, a month shy of his 23rd birthday. Realising he was standing in last chance saloon, he produced one of his greatest and most timely performances, scoring once and setting up three others in a 4-2 England victory.

England 4-2 Czechoslovakia England (4-4-2): Shilton; Dixon, Butcher, Walker, Pearce; Gascoigne, Hodge, Robson, Steven; Bull, Lineker Subs: Seaman, Dorigo, Wright, McMahon Goals: Bull (17 and 56), Pearce (24), Gascoigne (90) Czechoslovakia: Miklosko; Bielik, Kinier, Kocian, Straka; Bilek, Hasek, Kubik, Moravcik; Knoflicek, Skuhravy Subs: Kadlec Goals: Skuhravy (11), Kubik (81) Referee: Michel Girard Venue: Wembley Attendance: 21, 342 Advertisement

He assisted twice for Steve Bull, one from a sublime pass played with the outside of his boot and the other following a trademark surge and pinpoint cross. It was his corner that also caused havoc allowing Stuart Pearce to score.

The Czechs were a good team, they'd be World Cup quarter-finals themselves, but had no answer to genius. And Gazza saved the best until last, dribbling into the box before switching the ball from right foot to left in one movement and firing past Ludo Miklosko before the 'keeper could set himself.

In the dug-out, Robson was seen mouthing 'That's fantastic' and his post-match comments confirmed Gazza would be going to the World Cup as a starter.

'He ploughed all over the pitch and he couldn't do that a year ago,' explained the England manager.

'In league matches he was fading because he wasn't fit. But the Spurs management have done a good job. He is slimmer. No-one can tell me about the development of young players. I had 14 years them at Ipswich. You can play them too early and they dip. Tonight he was exciting and scored a thrilling goal.'

The following day's newspapers reflected the arrival of a new superstar with headlines like Dazzler Gazza.

The Mail splashed on Gascoigne Glory Night with writer Jeff Powell noting presciently: 'There is nothing unusual in candidates for World Cup teams presenting their credentials on the eve of the finals. Remember Hurst and Peters in 1966.'

Significantly, Gazza's England team-mates felt the 'Fat Boy' image of Gazza's earlier career had now been surpassed by a maestro ready for the big stage.

'Bobby wanted 11 players who knew the job they had to do for the team. You needed that in international football,' recalls fellow Italia 90 member Mark Wright.

Gascoigne's England team-mates felt he'd shed his 'Fat Boy' image in build up to Italia '90

Gazza's improved work rate and bravery in possession won the respect of his team-mates

'This was the night Gazza stepped up and ran the whole show. Not only the vision and passes he made, but the workrate. He was the one who got back to cover when the Czechs broke. He knew he had to show both sides of the game. He ran himself into the ground.'

Wright was a World Cup beneficiary, scoring the winner against Egypt from a Gazza set piece. 'He whipped it into an area where you could attack the ball.'

Bull remembers a sweet moment as he headed towards the Wembley dressing-room after the final whistle. 'Gazza came and gave us a peck on the cheek. It was a message to say: 'We've done it. We are going to the World Cup.'

It was fitting the assist for Gazza's important goal came from Tony Dorigo, his captain for the England under-21s.

England's Italia '90 World Cup squad Goalkeepers: Beasant, Woods, Shilton Defenders: Butcher, Dorigo, Parker, Pearce, Stevens, Walker, Wright Midfielders: Barnes, Gascoigne Hodge, McMahon, Platt, Robson, Steven, Waddle, Webb Strikers: Beardsley, Bull, Lineker Advertisement

'He was a joy because he always wanted the ball, as Glenn Hoddle did, but even higher up the pitch. If I made a run from left-back and got my head up, Gazza was there.

'He was as strong as an ox and defenders couldn't work out which was his weaker foot. He was quick with the ball because he controlled it instantly.

'Gazza had been head and shoulders above everyone else with the under-21s but when he came into the England squad and he still had that extra yard over some really top players, that's when it sunk in he was special. After the Czech game, there was a clamour to keep him in, no matter who was left out.'

As we know, Gazza did go to Italy and altered the face of football.

It turned into a summer of Pavarotti's Nessun Dorma, David Platt's volley against Belgium and a record TV audience of 26 million to see the semi-final defeat against Germany on penalties.

Through it all Gazza was front, back and centre. His tears in Turin after being booked against the Germans made him a national treasure and an unprecedented 300,000 people turned out to welcome the England team back at Luton Airport.

'We were in a cocoon in Italy so we didn't realise the impact until we arrived back and saw the crowd,' said Dorigo.

After football's dark days of the 1980s, the new decade brought new popularity and commercial revenues. There was a sell-out West End play, an Evening with Gary Lineker, a new genre of football fiction led by Fever Pitch. On the pitch, the new Premier League doubled attendances compared to the old First Division and went global, both in terms of superstar players and fanbase.

Gazza was included in Robson's squad and then proceeded to change the face of football

Gascoigne's tears during and after semi-final defeat to West Germany dominated newspapers

His personality and performances turned him into a global star and a dressing room favourite

Gazza's cheeky but engaging personality symbolised the revival, in the days before his serious problems with alcohol and mental health.

'Chris Waddle was Gazza's room-mate in Italy. He'd come to us to have a break. Within five minutes, Gazza would be knocking at the door 'Waddler, Waddler, are you there?' smiles Terry Butcher.

'He loved chocolate, Doc Crane (England team doctor John Crane) would leave all the players a Dairy Milk the day before matches as a treat. Gazza would try to nick them all. He was loveable pest, our loveable pest.'

'After the semi, Gazza found some beers and led the sing-song. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and of course the Geordie tune 'Blaydon Races.'

Another team-mate Stuart Pearce viewed him as the most talented he played with. 'He had a good arrogance about him. We played Holland at the World Cup. His view was 'I'm taking on Gullit and van Basten and I'll be the best.

A year after Italia '90 Gazza scored an iconic free-kick in FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal

His brilliant displays also made him the star of England's run to the semi-finals of Euro 1996

'What a maverick, what a talent. At different times in his life, you felt like belly-laughing with him and crying with him.'

It's a great shame that while Gazza helped create the football gravy train, it didn't help his own happiness. He had too many demons; alcohol, drugs, mental health, bad relationships for his personal story to run smoothly.

Dorigo recalls: 'Even then he didn't have an off-switch. I roomed with him once, he was still chatting away at one in the morning about every subject under the sun when all I wanted to do was go off to sleep. He was hyper but of course we didn't realise then the issues he had.'

What is beyond dispute is the role Gascoigne played both on the pitch and in the hearts and minds of the British public.

Gascoigne has suffered addiction and mental health problems since ending his career

Lineker, who was able to successfully ride as an important broadcast figure, assesses: 'That period was a seminal moment for football in this country. Lots of different kinds of people got interested, all different classes. It had a significant effect.'

Before he died, Sir Bobby used the pages in his Mail on Sunday column to explain how he felt about his wayward footballing son.

'Not only was Gazza a great player, but everyone loved him. He was the most popular member of my England squad,' said Sir Bobby. 'It's such a shame what drink and other things did to him but people never stopped caring or wishing him all the best.'

The whole incredible journey was only made possible because of the way he seized his big dress rehearsal against the Czechs.

Bobby Robson's son Mark was in the sparse Wembley crowd that night. 'To be able to take a new kid on the block to the World Cup, give that element of surprise, was vital. Gazza turned up that night to show he could do it. It was a game-changer.'