Bryan ROBSON

Bryan Robson wore his country's armband for the first time in November 1982 when England trounced Greece 3-0 in Salonika in what would be the highlight result of an abortive, frustrated and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to qualify for the 1984 European Championships. Robson missed three of the subsequent ties and numerous friendlies as 1983 became his first year where injury would seriously restrict his international progress, although he did score against Scotland in the summer Home Internationals before breaking down again. It was a certainty that a fit Bryan Robson would be welcomed back by his coach as both skipper and leading midfielder, and Robson returned in October 1983 for the penultimate qualifier against Hungary in Budapest, which England won 3-0.

By then the campaign had been deadened by a 1-0 home defeat to Denmark - from which Robson was crucially absent - and so his two goals which helped England round off the qualification group with a 4-0 win over Luxembourg (the photo above is during the game) only held personal significance. With no summer tournament to look forward to, Bobby Robson began to plan his campaign to reach the 1986 World Cup, and everything was, once again, to be built around his namesake and skipper, whom he described as "faultless." In 1984, Robson had a good year in an England jersey, even though there was a real sense of loss as the summer's European Championships went ahead without them.

He played in all bar one of the games - only missing a Home International defeat to the Welsh - and weighed in with one of his technically finest England goals in a warm-up against East Germany at Wembley, prior to the start of the serious business of qualifying for the World Cup. Bryan hung back on the edge of the penalty area as Kenny Sansom chipped in a high cross from distance and Wilkins climbed well to get a header back across the 18-yard line. Robson, with great instinct and ferocity, cracked an instant right foot volley into the roof of the net for one of the best goals he would score in his whole career. (Matthew Rudd)

For Bryan Robson, life would not be the same again as the referee blew the whistle for the opening group game against France. Winning his 20th cap, he sauntered forward as an extra attacking option after France immediately conceded a throw which was within range for Steve Coppell to hurl into the penalty area. As he did, the French defence all went for the clearance, as if to settle their nerves, but Terry Butcher won the flick and Robson was left entirely alone to raise his unerring left foot to the high, bouncing ball and slam it into ground and then the net (see top photo). The clock showed 27 seconds, Bryan had made World Cup history and England were off to a crazy flyer in their first World Cup for a dozen years.

France equalised but Robson, who later received a glittering gold watch for his achievement, restored the lead with a towering header (see bottom picture and then, in the inset photo, celebrating his fine effort) from Trevor Francis' cross midway through the second half, and ultimately England won 3-1. Bryan was the talk of world football, and the record stood for 20 years. Unsurprisingly, Robson was kept in place by Greenwood as England disposed of Czechoslovakia to guarantee their safe passage into the barmy second phase. A mild groin strain - the first of a number of World Cup interrupting injuries Robson would endure - kept him out of the last group match against Kuwait but a fit Bryan was restored for the relocation to Madrid and the second phase, with West Germany waiting. The game ended 0-0 and therefore victory over Spain was crucial to smooth England's passage into the semi-finals. Yet again there wouldn't be a goal in it, with Kevin Keegan infamously flashing wide a gilt-edged header from Robson's immaculate run and chipped cross.

As expected, the list of senior players withdrawing from international duty was long and star-studded when England returned home from Spain and new boss Bobby Robson, after initially giving the armband to Ray Wilkins as he had more than 50 caps, declared his unrelated namesake to be the new skipper of England. (Matthew Rudd)

Bryan Robson wore his country's armband for the first time in November 1982 when England trounced Greece 3-0 in Salonika in what would be the highlight result of an abortive, frustrated and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to qualify for the 1984 European Championships. Robson missed three of the subsequent ties and numerous friendlies as 1983 became his first year where injury would seriously restrict his international progress, although he did score against Scotland in the summer Home Internationals before breaking down again. It was a certainty that a fit Bryan Robson would be welcomed back by his coach as both skipper and leading midfielder, and Robson returned in October 1983 for the penultimate qualifier against Hungary in Budapest, which England won 3-0.

By then the campaign had been deadened by a 1-0 home defeat to Denmark - from which Robson was crucially absent - and so his two goals which helped England round off the qualification group with a 4-0 win over Luxembourg (the photo above is during the game) only held personal significance. With no summer tournament to look forward to, Bobby Robson began to plan his campaign to reach the 1986 World Cup, and everything was, once again, to be built around his namesake and skipper, whom he described as "faultless." In 1984, Robson had a good year in an England jersey, even though there was a real sense of loss as the summer's European Championships went ahead without them.

He played in all bar one of the games - only missing a Home International defeat to the Welsh - and weighed in with one of his technically finest England goals in a warm-up against East Germany at Wembley, prior to the start of the serious business of qualifying for the World Cup. Bryan hung back on the edge of the penalty area as Kenny Sansom chipped in a high cross from distance and Wilkins climbed well to get a header back across the 18-yard line. Robson, with great instinct and ferocity, cracked an instant right foot volley into the roof of the net for one of the best goals he would score in his whole career. (Matthew Rudd)

As if inspired by his terrific goal against the East Germans, Bryan Robson scored in England's 5-0 cakewalk against Finland at Wembley a month later as the World Cup campaign began perfectly, and then rattled in his first England hat-trick as Turkey were pummelled 8-0 (the main photo above is during the game). In 1985, England were more mixed in their form - undefeated in the World Cup qualifiers but beaten 1-0 by Scotland in the inaugural Rous Cup competition, yet Bobby Robson was happy with the long-term aim of reaching the World Cup, with his captain maintaining his superb, inspirational form in the middle as the new team gently started to slot into place around him. Wilkins was still Robson's main partner with Hoddle able to drop in when extra vision was required, but the coach was building a fast, lively and enthusiastic team of more youthful players around his central old guard.

The World Cup qualification group was completed without defeat as England drew with Romania (see inset picture, mulling over free-kick options with fellow midfielders Peter Reid and Glenn Hoddle) and Northern Ireland and destroyed Turkey 5-0 in between, with Robson again on the scoresheet. He then celebrated his 50th cap with both goals in a 2-1 friendly win over Israel before a shoulder injury curtailed his fine-tuning for the tournament. As Mexico beckoned, the captain of England only managed one more 90 minutes (a 3-0 win against the Mexicans played in Los Angeles) and was barely able to acclimatise, although the injury was treatable, if delicate, and there was little doubt that rest and physiotherapy would render him fit for the opening game of his second World Cup finals. England were duly led on to the Monterrey field by Robson, winning his 52nd cap, as they prepared to take on an underachieveing Portugal side. The performance was limp and fatigued and Portugal won 1-0, although it could have been more. Bryan emerged unscathed but was not so lucky in the next game against Morocco when, chasing a through ball with a defender in tow and a goalkeeper coming the other way, he fell awkwardly on to his suspect shoulder, dislodging it, and had to be helped gingerly from the field, in absolute agony, with his forearm tightly slung.

Wilkins was then sent off, throwing a further spanner into the works, but England escaped with a goalless draw and the enforced changes brought some vibrancy to the team afterwards. Robson watched as ultimately England were beaten in the quarter-finals by a Diego Maradona inspired Argentina, saying afterwards that he wouldn't have thought twice about booting the Argentine captain to the ground rather than let him go on the searching, penetrative run which brought him his country's second goal. Robson would not have been fit for the semi-final had England beaten Argentina, though the timescale suggested he could have made the final and, for all the fine attitude and form which his England team mates would have shown to get so far, there's little doubt that a fit Bryan Robson would have been recalled to lead the team out on final day. But it was never to be. (Matthew Rudd)

After the World Cup, Bryan Robson returned to the England team, captaining the side to a 3-0 win over Northern Ireland which got the qualification campaign for the 1988 European Championships underway in style. He later scored against the same opposition at Windsor Park and picked up his 60th cap as England once again pummelled Turkey 8-0 in what was the penultimate qualifier - Robson again a scorer, his 20th international goal. England sealed their place in the finals with a superb 4-1 win in Yugoslavia, Bryan scoring again, but there began a brief and understated campaign to turn Robson into a sweeper for England after a broken leg ruled Terry Butcher out of the European Championship finals in Germany.

Coach Bobby Robson refused to consider it, stating that his captain's importance in midfield far outweighed the distinct lack of experience available in the centre of defence caused by Butcher's absence. Robson played five times in 1988 prior to leading the team to Germany for a tournament which ultimately every Englishman wished to forget. An opening 1-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland in Stuttgart was reparable provided England could beat Holland in the next game. Marco van Basten exposed the rawness of England's central defence to put the Dutch ahead but it was Robson who led England back into the contest with an archetypal goal of determination and courage, swapping passes with Gary Lineker and lifting the ball over Hans van Breukelen just before the Dutch keeper clattered into the skipper, sending him flying into the air and landing hard on the turf via a somersault. No matter - the ball was in the net and England were level, but it didn't last long as van Basten completed a hat-trick and dumped England from the competition.

Holland went on to be crowned European champions while England suffered a third defeat against the USSR and came home in abject disgrace. A 31 year old Robson still had more to give, and his coach plainly thought so, and therefore England began to work on reaching the 1990 World Cup, though Bobby Robson was aware that he needed to start looking for his captain's natural successor in case injury or loss of form due to his age rendered his on-pitch leader unavailable. This took some time, but Bryan Robson helped matters by staying on top of his game, scoring in a friendly against Greece and then heading home the second goal as England beat Albania 2-0 in a qualifier in Tirana. (Matthew Rudd)

After the World Cup, Bryan Robson returned to the England team, captaining the side to a 3-0 win over Northern Ireland which got the qualification campaign for the 1988 European Championships underway in style. He later scored against the same opposition at Windsor Park and picked up his 60th cap as England once again pummelled Turkey 8-0 in what was the penultimate qualifier - Robson again a scorer, his 20th international goal. England sealed their place in the finals with a superb 4-1 win in Yugoslavia, Bryan scoring again, but there began a brief and understated campaign to turn Robson into a sweeper for England after a broken leg ruled Terry Butcher out of the European Championship finals in Germany.

Coach Bobby Robson refused to consider it, stating that his captain's importance in midfield far outweighed the distinct lack of experience available in the centre of defence caused by Butcher's absence. Robson played five times in 1988 prior to leading the team to Germany for a tournament which ultimately every Englishman wished to forget. An opening 1-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland in Stuttgart was reparable provided England could beat Holland in the next game. Marco van Basten exposed the rawness of England's central defence to put the Dutch ahead but it was Robson who led England back into the contest with an archetypal goal of determination and courage, swapping passes with Gary Lineker and lifting the ball over Hans van Breukelen just before the Dutch keeper clattered into the skipper, sending him flying into the air and landing hard on the turf via a somersault. No matter - the ball was in the net and England were level, but it didn't last long as van Basten completed a hat-trick and dumped England from the competition. Holland went on to be crowned European champions while England suffered a third defeat against the USSR and came home in abject disgrace.

A 31 year old Robson still had more to give, and his coach plainly thought so, and therefore England began to work on reaching the 1990 World Cup, though Bobby Robson was aware that he needed to start looking for his captain's natural successor in case injury or loss of form due to his age rendered his on-pitch leader unavailable. This took some time, but Bryan Robson helped matters by staying on top of his game, scoring in a friendly against Greece and then heading home the second goal as England beat Albania 2-0 in a qualifier in Tirana. (Matthew Rudd)

David Platt was immediately a first choice player for Graham Taylor, rightly, and Bryan Robson concentrated on maintaining his twilight period at Manchester United, with whom he had still yet to win the League title. However, a final twist came at the beginning of 1991 when Robson was recalled by Taylor to cover for Platt in a friendly against Cameroon, and he was handed back the captaincy for the occasion. He then stuck around for the experience factor as England drew with the Republic of Ireland in a Wembley qualifier for the 1992 European Championships.

There was a chance now for Robson - whose form merited his inclusion - to reach the magical 100 caps mark which only Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton had achieved, but Taylor then dropped him again, with the robust and somewhat less inspirational Geoff Thomas taking the second anchorman role in the middle of the park. There was one final hurrah for the Manchester United skipper - by now a winner in Europe with his club - with a swansong appearance in October 1991 against Turkey in another European Championship qualifier which was his 90th cap (the photo above is during the game) and also the first for eight years in which he had not been his nation's captain. This suggested once and for all that Taylor didn't want him around, and 90 seemed as rounded a figure as any to bring one of the great international careers to a conclusion.

There's little doubt that Robson would have been a boost to England through the rest of the qualifying campaign and the finals themselves, as he was still playing with quality and regularity at club level at the age of 35 and susbequently did enough to earn that elusive title medal. However, Taylor needed to plan ahead, and his ensuing problem was that there wasn't another like-for-like as far as replacing Robson was concerned, although Platt's international career also emerged with eminence and respect, not to mention more goals than his predecessor. England supporters will always be grateful to Bryan Robson and the risks he took for the cause, and the amount of caps he could have won and the heights England could have reached had he been forever fit remains one of the fans' favourite nostalgic discussion points. He was a hero and one of those few England stars who genuinely was close to flawless. (Matthew Rudd)