8 November 2005
Paul Robinson interview
The England keeper looks forward to England's friendly against Argentina in Switzerland.

Paul Robinson says he was sitting on his sofa pretending to be Peter Shilton when Maradona scored his ‘Hand of God’ goal - so he can’t wait to face Argentina for real.

England keeper Robinson was just seven years old when Maradona scored his infamous goal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.

But he still remembers it well and says past history only serves to add to the excitement as England prepare to take on Argentina in a friendly in Geneva on Saturday.

The Tottenham keeper, now 26, said: "It’s a friendly but I don’t think it will be played like a friendly because it’s a game with an eye on the World Cup. We may meet Argentina again in the finals and it’s a chance to play against a team as strong as us.

"There’s a great history between the sides. I remember the 1986 game, that was the first World Cup I really remember. I watched it and I was absolutely gutted afterwards.

"I was sat at home in the yellow and black zig-zaggy top that Shilts had on. Or was it the grey one? I think it was, actually.

"Maradona was a cheat but he got away with it. It’s still talked about now but it’s a very long time ago. We won’t be thinking or looking back at that, we will be taking the game on its merit and hopefully getting a result.

"I remember we beat them in the last World Cup and now we have a chance to do it again."

Robinson has strengthened his position as England’s first choice keeper over the last year, ever since taking over from David James against Poland in September 2004. And he says he has been inspired by hearing fans across the country talk about him as "England’s number one’.

"It’s different class," he said. "There’s nothing you can say to explain the feeling. To be regarded like that by so many people is a fantastic achievement.

"But it’s also a responsibility to make sure I carry on doing that and to keep people happy. Hopefully I can do that against Argentina."