Image via Wikipedia"Paul Robinson has announced his international retirement after pulling out of the England squad for the friendly against Hungary. Photograph: Barry Coombs/Empics"
• Robinson: 'I do not see myself as No3 or No4 choice'
• England will not replace Robinson in squad to face Hungary
The Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson has announced his retirement from international football after withdrawing from the England squad to face Hungary at Wembley on Wednesday.
"I've taken the decision to retire from international football with immediate effect," the 30-year-old said in a statement today. "Only now have I been able to make this decision as previously I have not been in contention or selected for the squad.
"As a professional who wants every chance to play football, I do not see myself as No3 or No4 goalkeeper. I find that role very frustrating. I haven't had the opportunity to be anything other than this in recent years. Therefore I feel it's in the best interests of myself and my club, Blackburn Rovers, that I concentrate solely on my club football. I wish the England team every success."
Robinson was included in the squad named by Fabio Capello last night, after being overlooked for this summer's World Cup in South Africa, but he will not be replaced in the squad for Wednesday's match.
Robinson won 41 caps for his country, making his debut against Australia in 2003, and he was first choice during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and for the finals. But he lost his place after making some costly errors as England missed out on qualification for Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren.
His failure to collect a Gary Neville back-pass resulted in an own goal in the 2-0 defeat in Croatia, and he could only palm a long-range shot into Roman Pavlyuchenko's path to concede the winner in a 2-1 defeat against Russia. He was not selected for two years following those mistakes and was recalled by Capello only when David James was injured for the World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra.
Robinson had shown signs of rediscovering his best form after joining Rovers in July 2008, including saving two penalties in a shootout against Chelsea to help the Lancashire club reach the Carling Cup semi-finals. Blackburn's manager Sam Allardyce called for Robinson to be named in England's World Cup squad, but he missed out as James, Joe Hart and Robert Green were selected.
Guardian.co.uk
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