The Case for PR

England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been pilloried by some sections of the press for his part in England’s ignominious 2-0 defeat to Croatia in Zagreb, so let’s get one thing straight – if it wasn’t for Robinson, the margin of the defeat and the degree of humiliation would have been much greater.

Yes, in the 67th minute Robinson completely miskicked a Gary Neville back pass as the ball unexpectedly bobbled up off a divot and then rolled agonisingly into the empty net. It was a freak situation and it has no doubt already been earmarked for future appearances on ‘A Question of Sport’.

But that was the full extent of his guilt – if ‘guilt’ is the right word. He was not at fault for the first Croatian goal, and those anxious to apportion blame should be asking how the cross came about and why none of three central defenders was apparently capable of preventing Eduardo Da Silva from heading it.

As for the rest of the match, Robinson’s saves kept England in the game twice in the first half, immediately after the interval when he saved a header from the unmarked Petric and seven minutes from the end of normal time when he dived to steer Simunic’s header over the bar.

It’s no wonder people sometimes describe goalkeeping as a thankless task.