'Keeper recalls the World Cup...and insists he'll play on...

'Keeper recalls the World Cup...and insists he'll play on...David Seaman will carry on playing for England. In an interview to be screened on BBC this evening, the vastly experienced stopper confirms that he has no intention of hanging up his gloves just yet.

He says: "I've decided I want to keep playing. There's no doubt about that, otherwise I'd have called it a day the day after the Brazil game. I realised in the summer that it wasn't something that I wanted to give up while I was still playing okay. I really enjoyed myself in the World Cup apart from that one mistake."

With both Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland showing international form this season too (both have saved penalties in the last week), David knows that he has a fight on his hands to retain the number one jersey.

It is a challenge he relishes, saying: "I want to keep playing for Arsenal and if I play well for Arsenal then I expect to be picked for England.

"It's not about getting a young goalkeeper in the game ready for the next finals. We've got to get to the finals first. Judge me on what I'm doing on the pitch. It's not how old you are, it's how good you are."

Meanwhile, David has firm fans in his managers at both club and international level. Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger said: "One day somebody will tell him, listen, I've got a better keeper than you. He'll accept it. Nobody will keep you in goal if you're not good enough and if I'm his manager I will tell him that."

Sven has admitted that if ever Seaman lost his place at Arsenal "it would be very difficult for me to play him," adding that he didn't know when Seaman would quit. "He's a great goalkeeper. I never like to tell people that it's over. It's a difficult conversation to have, but I think that Arsene has that job before me."

Tonight's documentary sees David relive the World Cup Quarter-Final match-up with Brazil. Seaman said: "The game against Brazil was going okay. We got a great goal through Michael Owen, but they scored just before half-time and as a team that is hard. I went out for the second half and within five minutes they got a free-kick on the left.

"Ronaldinho shaped up to cross it and the ball came off his ankle and ended up over my head in the top corner off the bar. It was hard to take." David states that he would not have changed anything about his positioning for the incoming free-kick, explaining: "Everything was right. I was a bit off my line which I always am, and every keeper is for that sort of free-kick that's going to come in. I saw the ball early, expecting it to start swinging out, so I took a few paces and then realised it wasn't swinging out.

"It was straightening up and I knew I was in trouble. Then you start praying for it to go over or hit the bar and come out or anything like that.

"The next thing you hear is the rustle of the net. It is the worst feeling ever, knowing it's in from that sort of range. I knew when it had happened I would be criticised because the guy scored from 35 yards out and as a goalkeeper you don't really expect to let goals in like that. It doesn't matter whether it's a fluke or he meant to do it. It was such a big game for me and in the World Cup for England as well. You're left thinking, 'Why me?' "

"When the final whistle went I knew we were out and I can remember just walking around numb and emotional, not knowing what to do. After seeing the England fans it just all started happening, the tears and everything. It surprised me but that's the way I felt at that time."

* David Seaman: The Real Story is on BBC1 tonight at 10.45pm.