Soccer
Robinson quits England
2010-08-08 14:51
London - England goalkeeper Paul Robinson announced his international retirement on Sunday hours after being recalled to the squad, disrupting Fabio Capello's plans for Wednesday's friendly against Hungary.
Capello planned to use the match to usher in a new era following England's woeful World Cup. He will now have only two goalkeepers to choose from after deciding not to replace the 30-year-old Blackburn keeper.
Robinson, who was England's No. 1 at the 2006 World Cup, did not want to be behind Joe Hart and Ben Foster in the pecking order.
"As a professional who wants every chance to play football, I do not see myself as No. 3 or 4 goalkeeper," Robinson said. "I find that role very frustrating. I haven't had the opportunity to be anything other than this in recent years."
Robinson missed the cut for South Africa having not played for England since 2007. He was brought back into the fold on Saturday after Capello decided to drop 40-year-old David James and Robert Green, whose blunder in the World Cup opener gifted the United States an equalizer.
It was Robinson's mistakes during the failed qualifying campaign for the 2008 European Championship that cost him a place in the starting XI. The last of his 41 England appearances was in a 2-1 defeat to Russia in October 2007.
But Robinson has impressed again since joining Blackburn from Tottenham in July 2008.
"I feel it in the best interest of myself and my club, Blackburn Rovers, that I concentrate solely on my club football," he said. "I wish the (England) team every success."
England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign begins in September with matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland.