Ireland legend Tony Cascarino taks Troy Parrott and Italia ’90

Tony Cascarino was speaking on behalf of Tonybet to mark the launch of their World Cup Card Collection campaign where Irish customers can win up to €100,000.

Cascarino appeared 88 times for Ireland, scoring 19 goals, none of which more memorable than his looping header against England at the old Lansdowne Road.

Parrott could be better with one tactical change

Troy Parrott delivered again this season for AZ Alkmaar after his heroic displays for Ireland during World Cup qualification games against Portugal, Hungary and Czechia.

Tony Cascarino, one of the legends of the Jack Charlton era, has suggested a major tactical shake up to get the best out of his fellow striker.

Cascarino believes Parrott could perform to an even higher level if partnered up top with a physical player.

The 63-year-old said: "I think Troy needs a partner, it's so tough to lead the line alone unless you're a 6"4 striker.

"I think he's been doing it better than he used to be (holding the ball up), he's matured, but I would love to see him with a partner - someone to take a little bit of weight off of him.

"Because one thing that Troy has got is his finishing ability, so you have to give the lad chances."

On Troy Parrott potentially flourishing in the Premier League with a shift in style, Cascarino further alluded to the importance of a strike partner.

The former Millwall striker continued: "How would Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen have got on without a strike partner like Emile Heskey or a physical player up there.

"It's a really hard job to play on your own, I did it but I'm 6"3 and I had two lightening wingers on either side.

"I've never met a striker who has said 'I like playing on my own'.

"I've played with Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham, Clive Allen - they all wanted a partner because they get more opportunities to score.

"I haven’t seen him with a partner, or someone he can feed off of. I like his attitude, he’s got a great mentality, he’s earned his stripes in football.

"Being at Tottenham as a youngster, not quite getting through the systems to get into the first-team.

"Troy will get opportunities and now he is the talisman for Ireland."

Something "seriously bad" could've happened during Italia '90 parade

The 1st of July 1990, one of the most memorable days in Irish sports history - the homecoming parade for Jackie's lads.

Italia '90 was the first time Ireland appeared in a World Cup and what a debut tournament it was.

The team reached the quarter-finals having not won a game in 90 minutes.

After a famous penalty shootout victory against Romania, Ireland were unfortunately knocked out 1-0 by the hosts, Italy.

Cascarino has revealed that on one of Dublin's most famous of nights, something could've gone terribly wrong.

He recalled: "We're arriving in Dublin, about 20 minutes from landing and on the tannoy it's announced there's some people at Dublin airport.

"By the time we're landing there's hundreds of thousands of people and when we get off the plane there's half a million at the airport.

"The welcome was of complete surprise, we were rushed in and there was interviews - it was full on.

"Then there was the journey in the bus afterwards - Jack Charlton was going mad!

"He thought someone was going to get seriously hurt, people were running and following the bus, trying to jump on the bus as it was going down through Dublin city-centre.

"It was just mayhem. It was one of those moments where you think, 'something seriously bad could've happened here'.

"It was extraordinary, our reaction with the Irish fans."

Recalling coming home, Cascarino said he was so "glad to be back in my bed."

The legendary striker finished: "It was a long day, I laughed as much as I ever laughed and shared special memories with the Irish in Dublin.

"We started off the night in our Ireland suits and by the end of the night they were completely torn apart with things hanging off our jackets.

 "We all looked worse for wear. It can never happen today, that type of homecoming.”

Wholesome Andy Townsend story

Charlton won the World Cup with England in 1966, but his name was etched into Irish sporting history after his sides performances during his era as manager.

A big part of Jack's coaching style was allowing his players to enjoy themselves after games - to a degree.

Cascarino revealed one of the most wholesome stories that happened on one of those nights out.

After a World Cup qualification game with teammate Andy Townsend, the two men had quite the encounter on Leeson Street in Dublin.

The Marseille cult-hero recalled: "Andy (Townsend) could play the guitar, after one international game we decide to go down to Leeson street.

"As we were about to go into the bar, there was a homeless man outside and me and Andy saw him so we talked to him and he was a really nice guy.

"Afterwards we went down to the bar and Andy went 'come let's go back up to him' and the guy had a guitar.

"So me and Andy went back up and we bought a bottle of champagne and we said to him 'we're going to try and raise some money for you'.

"So Andy asked me 'what's your favourite song' and I knew most of the lyrics to American Pie by Don McLean.

"We started playing away signing Don McLean and people could see us and went 'there's Townsend and Cascarino'.

"The homeless guy at the end of it said: ‘that’s the most money I ever earned in a night!’.

"That was just an experience, it was a spontaneous reaction to someone who was having a hard time and it reminded us how fortunate we were as footballers.”