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LONDON. — Twenty-five years after Paul Gascoigne cried his way into the nation’s hearts, another England player’s tears are again the defining memory of a tournament.

Laura Bassett’s heartbreaking own goal in injury time saw England women suffer a 2-1 defeat by Japan in the Women’s World Cup semi-final in Canada.

The Notts County defender left the pitch in tears, inconsolable after the Lionesses missed out on their first World Cup final appearance. But she was not the only one in tears. Teammates cried, fans wept and television pundits struggled to compose themselves. Even manager Mark Sampson looked like he had been crying as he walked into the post-match news conference. But England fans have been here before. Gascoigne’s exploits on July 4, 1990 in the World Cup semi-final against West Germany in Turin will live long in the memory. He had been the star of Italia 90 with his flamboyant skill, incredible ability to take on — and beat his man — and wacky personality.

But he could not stop the tears after a mistimed lunge on West Germany’s Thomas Berthold saw him shown the yellow card that would rule him out of the final, if England got there.

Bobby Robson’s England eventually lost 4-3 on penalties with Chris Waddle missing the penalty that Gascoigne had been scheduled to take, but was still too upset to do so. Just like Gascoigne?

It did not take long for the comparisons to start between Gascoigne and Bassett’s tears, with readers of the BBC Sport live text commentary contributing on Twitter.

Andrew Burton: “I’m old enough to remember the last England World Cup Semi-final in 1990 and Paul Gascoigne’s tears. This is worse. Beyond gutted for Bassett.” — BBC Sport.