The mistake was calling it a mistake. "You just said
'their mistake'," snapped Paul Robinson, the anger visible in his
eyes. "It wasn't a mistake. I go to kick the ball and the ball
wasn't there."
The ball was there but don't tell England's goalkeeper that without
first taking out extra medical insurance. Robinson remains rather
touchy about his failure to connect with a Gary Neville backpass in
Zagreb last October, especially when anyone dares point the gloved
finger of blame in his direction.
Robinson appears to have told himself as much over and over again.
His supporters have evidently said as much too. But the Tottenham
goalkeeper gets so defensive about the incident he ends up lashing
out at his young international understudies.
During what rapidly developed into a fascinating interview,
jealousy as well as rage surged through the veins of 'England's
number one'. Paranoia too. Was he coming under pressure from Ben
Foster and Scott Carson?
"Scott and Ben are at clubs who have been struggling in the league
this year," he said. "I get one save a game. They get six, seven,
eight a game. They are getting rave reviews for the saves they are
pulling off left, right and centre, but they are getting seven or
eight saves and I am only getting one. And if I don't get that one
then I have had a bad game. So it is difficult."
"I had messages of support. From family, friends, other goalkeepers
and people who understand football. I had a lot of people phone me.
It is something in the past. It is gone, finished with, I want to
look to the future."
Which, given his reaction here, is just as well.
