Pickford in spotlight against Croatia with England position under threat from Trafford

Goalkeeper returns for Saturday’s Nations League match but is under pressure to respond with strength of competition growing For England’s first meeting with Luka Modric you have to go back 20 years. Croatia were managed by Slaven Bilic, who has returned for a second spell in cha

Goalkeeper returns for Saturday’s Nations League match but is under pressure to respond with strength of competition growing For England’s first meeting with Luka Modric you have to go back 20 years. Croatia were managed by Slaven Bilic, who has returned for a second spell in charge of the national team, and dominated in Zagreb. They eased to a 2-0 win, Steve McClaren’s doomed attempt to qualify for Euro 2008 took a turn for the worse and, as well as Modric giving England’s midfield the runaround, the game was remembered best for a horror mistake from the Three Lions No 1.

Paul Robinson must have wanted the ground to swallow him up when he kicked at thin air and let Gary Neville’s backpass bobble into the net. Robinson, his aura diminished, never really recovered. The goalkeeper made 10 more appearances but after another crucial error against Russia in October 2007, he never won another cap.

Continue reading...