Ally McCoist has a theory about why Paul Gascoigne never mentioned his Euro '96 goal against Scotland upon returning to Rangers.

The former Gers striker also told a story as to Gascoigne's generosity, when he promised his shirt from the same match to two different teammates.

McCoist on Gascoigne goal

McCoist says that Gazza was surprisingly quiet on the summer's events when he came back to training in late summer of 1996.

"We forced him to recreate it in the dressing room with a pair of rolled-up socks, but genuinely when he came in he never mentioned it!

"I've got my own theory on that, and I feel quite strongly about it. I'm loath to use the word 'embarrassed', but I certainly think he was conscious of the fact that the goal was one of extreme quality that we would watch again 25 years later, it's constantly on.

"I think he was conscious of it, so much so that he didn't mention it to us when he was giving us a little bit of stick.

"Whereas, I think that if Alan Shearer had hit one, it had hit the post and Gacoigne had tapped it in from two yards, I think he would have made our lives a misery for the remainder of his period at Rangers!

"I think he was conscious - not embarrassed - of the quality of the goal.

"It was amazing, really."

Gazza shirt story

McCoist relayed a story of Gascoigne's generosity.

"It's another story that just sums Gascoigne up. I had just had my first boy, the wee fella would have been a baby at the time," he says.

"I think Stuart McCall was the same, and he promised both of us his jersey from the game. So I know he's promised Stuart, Stuart knows he's promised me, we're not bothered at all because we know what Paul's like. We're thinking 'he'll do something, he'll find a way.'

"Anyway, I'm going down the tunnel here at half-time, it's 0-0 in this Scotland-England game, so you can imagine there is bedlam. Absolute bedlam. It was the old Wembley, down the tunnel at half-time.

"Gascoigne runs by me, and he runs towards the Scottish dressing room shouting 'Stuart!' This is taking place at half-time, on his way to his own dressing room.

"Stuart turns round, Gazza takes off his jersey, throws it to Stuart and says 'Tell Coisty he can have the one in the second half!'"

Lifelong pals

It was a lovely moment in a friendship that endures to this day.

"We are halfway through one of the most important matches in all of our careers, and he's thinking about other people.

"I do have a lovely photograph taken just at the end of the game where we are embracing each other, swapping jerseys. I'm saying 'what a goal, we'll be watching that for years to come.' I just wished him all the best."

The UEFA European Championships Roadshow on OTB Sports with Heineken – official beer partner of UEFA Euro 2020. Finally together to be rivals again. Drink responsibly, visit drinkaware.ie

Download the brand new OTB Sports App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to Off The Ball's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.