World Cup 2006
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Profiles
1 Paul Robinson
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Born: 15.10.79
- Club: Tottenham
Paul Robinson had only started one England friendly when he was called upon to keep goal in the World Cup qualifier in Poland in September 2004, at the age of just 24. Sven-Goran Eriksson needed a more composed custodian after David James' calamity in Austria four days earlier - and the £1.5million Tottenham man soon proved to be hard to beat.
The Beverley-born keeper could not keep a clean sheet in Chorzow - Maciej Zurawski blasting past him early in the second half - but his calm and assured presence helped England close out a 2-1 victory against their closest Group Six rivals.
Robinson's first shut-out was to come at Old Trafford a month later as Wales were seen off 2-0, beginning a run of six games in which he conceded just one goal - to Spain's Asier del Horno in a 1-0 friendly defeat in Madrid.
His importance to the England cause was then underlined by the 4-1 defeat away to Denmark, as James - still hoping to win back his jersey - replaced him after a goalless first half and promptly suffered another disaster.
A couple of high-profile errors whilst on club duty last October cast doubt in the minds of some critics as to Robinson's reliability - but those fears were quickly dispelled as the former Leeds man made a series of excellent stops to deny Argentina in the thrilling 3-2 win in Geneva.
Robinson therefore heads to his first World Cup knowing he is now 'England's Number One', with the country's safest hands since David Seaman in his prime.
