Today I'm going back 12 years to 2009 to the Friendly International between England and Slovenia played at Wembley Stadium. The match formed part of England's preparations for the World Cup qualifier against Croatia the following week. England were ranked 7th in the FIFA rankings at the time compared to Slovenia's 54th position so England were definitely expected to win the game. In the end, England did indeed win but, finishing 2-1, it was far closer than many would have liked.
This was an experienced England line-up and the only players appearing who had less than ten caps were goal keeper Robert Green (6 caps) and the substitutes James Milner (2nd cap), Joleon Lescott (8th cap) and Carlton Cole (4th cap). England took the lead from the penalty spot after 31 minutes thanks to a rather fortuitous penalty won by Wayne Rooney and converted by Frank Lampard. After 63 minutes, super substitute Jermain Defoe scored England's second. It was his fifth goal in in just three games! Slovenia pulled a goal back in the 84th minute through a near post header from Ljubijankic but it was too little too late from the Slovenians and English attentions turned to the game against Croatia four days later.
As can be seen from the programme cover, this match came shortly after the death of former England player and manager Bobby Robson. Robson was a proper football man and made his name as a player for Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and England (20 caps and 4 goals). In club football management, before the England call came, Robson had taken provincial side Ipswich Town to some glorious years including winning the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981. Ipswich were regular title challengers under Robson too. Surprising as it may seem today, Robson wasn't a terribly popular England manager and he was another who had the misfortune to take on the "most difficult job in football" at the height of the tabloid circulation wars. Robson came in for some harsh criticism and had his private life dissected in a vicious and wholly unfair manner.
Robson's England almost came a cropper in the Group stage of the Mexico World Cup but squeaked through before eventually being eliminated by Maradona's "Hand of God". The 1988 European Championships under Robson were disastrous however with England losing all three Group games and going home to huge criticism. After a subsequent draw with Saudi Arabia, one press headline about Robson read "In the name of Allah go!". Robson tendered his resignation which was refused and he survived to lead England to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup in Italy in 1990 before leaving England to take up club management roles at PSV, Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Porto and returning finally to his beloved Newcastle United where he was revered. History has been kind to Robson and he is remembered with great affection by almost everyone since his death from lung cancer in July 2009. Certainly he ranks alongside Gareth Southgate as my favourite England manager of all time.
CRB Match No. 1708
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