Robson backs Eriksson to turn fortunes around
Former England captain Bryan Robson has every confidence in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team recovering from their embarrassment in Belfast to qualify for the World Cup as group winners.
Robson, now manager of West Brom, concedes England were a little lax in their work-rate against Northern Ireland, who beat them 1-0 thanks to a goal from Leeds striker David Healy.
“The defeat will give them a kick up the backside to make sure they go on and qualify,” he said.
Robson, who was highly-respected during his distinguished international career, added: “England being beaten by Northern Ireland was disappointing as was the general performance.
“When you talk about tactics it was overall a poor team performance. As individuals they let themselves down.
“But for me I still have confidence that in two home games against Austria and Poland the England team will bounce back. I still feel they will top the group – so long as they beat Austria.
“If that is the case the manager has done his job. When people talk about giving him the sack it is a first qualifying game he has lost.
“So you have to leave the man in the position and let him finish off the job with two home games coming up.”
Robson fully admits the performance in Belfast left a great deal to be desired.
He said: “Individual performances were really poor.
“The England players will be the first to hold up their hands and admit that this is the case.
“But you do get this kind of result in football. It is going to happen some time or other where a real underdog will beat a top team.
“It is a bitter pill to swallow when it happens to you.”
Robson recollects he was himself involved in a similar situation very early in his international career.
He discloses: “When we were beaten by Norway we were getting the same criticism as the current side but we went on to qualify.
“In the 1982 World Cup we didn’t lose a game. We beat France who went on to do really well in the competition.
“With a little bit of good fortune we could have done the same. That is the way it goes. It soon changes around.
“This is why you have to give Sven the chance to finish the job he started.”
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