The summer of '90 in Italy will forever be etched in England fans' collective memory - for all the right and wrong reasons. But behind the drama on the pitch, something groundbreaking was unfolding. The nation's sports science revolution had begun, spearheaded by Professor John Brewer, the FA's trailblazing head of human performance.
With his team, Brewer tackled one of the biggest challenges facing England in Italy: acclimatising to the sweltering heat. At Lilleshall, before departure for the World Cup, and in Italy itself - where blistering sun pounded the squad daily - bleep tests were conducted on BBC microcomputers, Polar heart-rate monitors, and dot-matrix printers. These cutting-edge assessments proved that England's stars could maintain their high-octane game tempo, dispelling initial doubts from within the camp.
Professor Brewer's innovations didn't win everyone over initially, however. He championed carb-heavy meals before matches, a concept met with resistance from traditionalists in the medical team. One notable instance had him butting heads with the team doctor ahead of the opening match against Ireland - when the doc insisted on serving swordfish steaks instead of Brewer's recommended carbs.
Under Professor Brewer's guidance, England adopted groundbreaking training techniques that have since become standard practice. These included warm-ups without the ball to elevate body temperature and enhance flexibility, a far cry from traditional 'knockabout' sessions. He also pushed for substitutes to stretch and warm up regularly and for squad players to train harder between matches, with results that benefited David Platt after his stint as stand-in for injured Bryan Robson.
What's fascinating is how players with international experience - Chris Waddle, Trevor Steven among them - seemed more open to the new nutritional advice. Paul Gascoigne, too, proved a convert, achieving an impressive body fat percentage of around 10%, thanks in part to his dedication to Brewer's regimen, which they discussed in-depth.
Alcohol intake was tightly controlled, with a two-week ban enforced before the tournament - although there were instances of players flouting this rule. Professor Brewer recalled numerous heart-to-hearts with Gascoigne, highlighting the player's remarkable commitment, even if his public persona often shone brighter than his on-pitch form.