This evening's match sees the Knight of the English game lead his Newcastle side against the 'Old Lady' of Italian football, Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.

It's a huge game for the Geordies but don't expect a man who has experienced a World Cup semi-final to be overawed by the situation.

The game was one of the greatest England matches in modern memory and Sir Bobby can still remember it vividly today. "It was a semi-final and a packed house and there was so much at stake, such a lot to play for,'' he said.

``It just didn't quite go our way because we didn't get the result we deserved. But I'm over that now, although I'll never forget it."

After holding the World Cup favourites West Germany to a 1-1 draw after two hours of absorbing football, England finally lost the semi-final in a penalty shoot-out. Gascoigne, Shilton and the whole of the defence were outstanding on a night when Robson's team reproduced the character and determination that had marked their matches in the Italia 90 tournament.

They played some super football too. The English rearguard, with Butcher as sweeper, operated so well as a unit that the effectiveness of the potentially lethal striking partnership of Voller and Klinsmann was severely reduced. Voller actually went off injured after a clash with Walker and Klinsmann hardly got a kick in normal time.

The goal from Brehme's free-kick on the hour was the result of a deflection off Parker that had the ball looping crazily into the air and over the back-pedalling Shilton.

England left it late to equalise, as they had done against Cameroon in the quarter-final, with Lineker rifling home a left-footer with ten minutes to go after some slack German defending.

Then, after a goalless extra half-hour, Robson and his staff watched helplessly from the bench as Pearce and Waddle missed from the spot in the shoot-out.

There were tears at the end - memorably from England's No.19 - but in reaching the last four England had produced their best World Cup performance on foreign soil.

``I loved it. I just had an unfortunate day, but I shall always remember it," said Sir Bob.

``That was an international match, the World Cup. This is different, but I'm looking forward to going back.''

The fact that he did not take England to the World Cup final during his eight-year reign remains Robson's most enduring regret, but a positive result for Newcastle in Italy after successive Group E defeats by Dynamo Kiev and Feyenoord would provide the ideal antidote.

Needless to say, English football wishes Sir Bob and Newcastle all the best.

Here's a look at the teamsheets from that fateful night in '90:

West Germany: Illgner, Berthold, Brehme, Kohler, Augenthaler, Buchwald, Hassler (Reuter), Voller (Riedle), Thon, Matthaus, Klinsmann

England: Shilton, Parker, Pearce, Wright, Walker, Butcher (Steven), Platt, Waddle, Gascoigne, Lineker, Beardsley

Referee: J. Wright (Brazil)

Attendance: 62,628