Tony DORIGO

Australian-born full back Tony Dorigo holds a minor record for an England international which, in the current footballing climate, is unlikely to be equalled again - he was the last uncapped player to be included in a squad for a major finals. Bobby Robson felt compelled to have some real cover for Kenny Sansom for the 1988 European Championships and, after natural replacement Stuart Pearce suffered an injury which ruled him out, he turned to Chelsea's elegant and pacey Dorigo. Inevitably, Tony got nowhere near the field of play as a lethargic England dismally lost all three of their group matches in Germany and flew home early, and he didn't even benefit from Robson's subsequent decision to close the book on Sansom's England career. Pearce became the first choice left back and Dorigo became a regular squad member before finally earning his first cap in December 1989 as a second half sub for Pearce, almost 18 months after travelling to the European Championships. England won the game - a 1990 World Cup warm-up against Yugoslavia - and Dorigo continued in good humour as England's most called-up understudy, again coming on for Pearce in the memorable 4-2 win over Czechoslovakia at Wembley which mapped out the World Cup destinies of both Paul Gascoigne and Steve Bull. A 1-0 win over Denmark followed, with Tony yet again coming on for Pearce, prior to Robson finalising his 22 for Italy and duly naming Dorigo in the travelling party, holding off a minor claim from Arsenal's Nigel Winterburn to be Pearce's worthiest deputy.

Rarely can an outfield player find themselves in the squad for two major competitions in a row without ever having started a game, but this was where Dorigo found himself. He partly emulated Allan Clarke two decades earlier by making his full England debut in a World Cup match, though this was the third-place play-off against the hosts Italy after the agonising exit via penalties three days earlier in the semi-finals against West Germany. Clarke's debut was in a far more important group game (and he had never even been previously a sub) but still Dorigo could add another idiosyncratic fact to his short England career. The game itself was not incidental for Tony individually - an immaculate run and cross set up David Platt's headed goal in England's 2-1 defeat, and he also went through the pain barrier for the cause, playing the final segment of the game with a stitched eye which leaked blood on to his England shirt (see photo above). (Matthew Rudd)

Bobby Robson's exit from the England job after the World Cup altered Dorigo's international opportunities triflingly, with Graham Taylor still regarding Pearce as the country's top left back. Tony reverted to his familiar back-up status, coming on again for Pearce in Taylor's opening game in charge as England beat Hungary 1-0. Taylor gave Dorigo only his second start for England in the summer mini-tournament match against the Soviet Union at Wembley, but didn't take him on the subsequent tour of Australasia and the Far East, preferring to use Pearce's experience amidst a squad of extremely green internationals. Tony instead completed a move to Leeds United and, although he subsequently would win the League title with his new club, he was still unable to force his way past the formidable Pearce, who was approaching 50 caps and had been briefly entrusted with the country's captaincy. However, as England battered their way through the qualifying group to seal a place in the 1992 European Championships, Dorigo stuck around as a faithful, uncomplaining squad member, and had won his tenth cap - in a 1-1 draw with Brazil - by the time Taylor selected his squad for the finals in Sweden. Yet again Dorigo was in place and, for the second European Championships in a row, he didn't kick a ball in anger as a lame England exited in the group phase.

Gary Lineker's retirement after the tournament prompted Taylor to give the captaincy to Pearce, and therefore Dorigo's chances of further caps diminished even more, with England captains rarely being substituted at any level of international football unless injured. In 1993, however, Taylor redirected the armband to David Platt after Pearce suffered an injury, and Dorigo began a healthy run in the side, finally playing in a competitive game which really counted for something as England thumped San Marino 6-0 at Wembley in a qualifier for the 1994 World Cup. Taylor was being overly experimental with his defence in many eyes, but Tony played well, stoutly forming part of a resilient England rearguard which ground out a 1-1 draw in Poland as the qualification contest hotted up. Taylor took him to the USA for a summer tournament and Dorigo played in an infamous 2-0 defeat by the hosts in Boston and a more face-saving 1-1 draw with Brazil in Washington, before taking his place over an unfit Pearce for the deciding World Cup qualifier in Rotterdam. Holland's 2-0 win ruined England's dream of the World Cup and Taylor was dismissed at the end of 1993. Successor Terry Venables immediately called up Graeme Le Saux and, with Pearce also remaining in the fold and Leeds starting to decline, Dorigo's involvement ended. Somehow it remains a most eventful and groundbreaking international career even though it ultimately didn't achieve much in terms of contributions on the pitch. (Matthew Rudd)