Robinson seeks to bounce back after a bobble from hell

He might have hoped that his free-kick that bounced improbably over Ben Foster's head and into Watford's goal on Saturday would have been the moment that caused everyone to forget what happened against Croatia in October. But however confident Paul Robinson might be about his own position in the England team, the Tottenham goalkeeper cannot afford to be at the centre of another calamity in Tel Aviv tomorrow.

Not that you would know it from Robinson's demeanour. It is a curious fact about Steve McClaren's first-choice goalkeeper that he exempts himself from any blame when it comes to that Gary Neville back-pass against Croatia that bobbled over his foot and into the England goal. "It was a ridiculous bobble, for people to say it was an error and my fault was ridiculous," he says. An anomaly that, he added, was just "another day in the life and times of Paul Robinson".

It is that brand of confidence that has sustained Robinson through the bad times, and the sports psychologists would no doubt delight in his bold third-person characterisation. He might well need the self-belief. After giving Foster his first cap against Spain last month, McClaren will return the No 1 shirt to Robinson on Saturday - but for how long? Foster snaps at his heels and the goalkeeper's position does not feel like a closed debate.

The Neville own goal itself was the lowest point of a dark night for English football; a bizarre moment, but the kind of misfortune more likely to befall a team as chaotic as England were that night. Robinson was chasing Gordon Banks' England record of seven consecutive clean sheets in Zagreb, although more recently he has some moments to forget, like the two goals conceded in Arsenal's Carling Cup comeback in the semi-final first leg at White Hart Lane.

Robinson was honest about the pain of that Neville own goal against Croatia although his exoneration of himself sounds a little too emphatic.

"After the Croatia game it was difficult," he said. "You take a lot of criticism and still to this day, I don't think there was anything I could have done. But it does affect you because you get known for that. It is a strong person to come through it, a strong character and at times it has been difficult. At times, it is not easy. I am definitely a stronger person.

"I didn't have to force myself [to watch it] - it was on every single television channel and pictured in every newspaper that I picked up. It wouldn't be something I would take great pride in watching, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

He took exception to the way in which McClaren's decision to give Foster a start against Spain was projected by the Press. The official line was that Robinson was asked to step aside to give a chance to one of his inexperienced deputies - Foster or Scott Carson, on loan at Charlton from Liverpool. Given that it took at least three questions until McClaren admitted that Robinson was still his first choice it was difficult not to suspect there were other motives at work.

"You guys, the TV and media, made of that what you wanted," Robinson said. "You can see the manager's point of view. If I was injured or missed this game then Ben had not played a European game for his club let alone an international game so he needed to know he could rely on him. I fully understood that but other things were made of it. Of course, you need competition. I think it is good for the squad."

And Robinson's competition has been playing at two of the Premiership's strugglers this season. "They are getting rave reviews for the saves they are pulling off left, right and centre, but they are getting six or seven shots in a match whereas I am getting one," Robinson argued. "If I don't get that one, then I have had a bad game. So it is difficult."

He did point out that being a contender for the England goalkeeping position can be a lot easier than being its occupant, and you could see his point.

"Everyone thinks you should be the one when you are up and coming and then when you get it everyone tries to shoot you down."

That, unfortunately, is the nature of the job - one mistake against Croatia and he is under pressure. "There you go," Robinson replied, "it wasn't a mistake. I went to kick the ball and it wasn't there."

Interesting? Click here to explore further