Paul Robinson believes England’s quarter-final against Norway in Miami will be the toughest game they have faced so far, with the former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper pointing to the heat and humidity as the decisive factor.
Robinson has been travelling through the tournament as part of Radio Five Live’s coverage, and his view comes after a demanding few days that took him from Azteca Stadium in Mexico to Miami for England’s next match. He said the contrast in conditions has been striking, and that England have been fortunate in earlier games with rain and indoor settings.
Why Miami changes the picture
The concern for England is not the quality of the opposition alone. It is what happens when the game is played in extreme heat, with Robinson stressing that the humidity in Miami makes this a very different test from the ones England have already handled.
“Having spent two days in Miami now, this is going to be the most difficult game that England have had - simply due to the conditions,” Robinson said.
That is a strong warning from someone who knows what a major tournament can feel like when the margins are tight. England have already benefited from more forgiving conditions in other matches, but Robinson’s point is that those advantages may disappear on Saturday night at 10pm UK.
The Azteca Stadium experience stayed with him
Robinson also described his visit to Azteca Stadium as one of the most powerful experiences of the tournament. He said he was struck by the history of the venue, and by the feeling of standing in the same place linked with Pele and Brazil in 1970 and Maradona and England in 1986.
“I mean, the history… it takes a lot for me to be impressed with a football stadium, the amount of places I've played and covered in the media, doing the job that I do now, but I walked into that stadium and I just went, ‘wow’,” he said.
For Robinson, the reaction was not only about the setting, but about the memories attached to it. He recalled asking John Murray which end had been the site of the Hand of God, before realising it was the same end England defended in the second half against Mexico.
The match itself left a mark too. Robinson said he felt “emotionally and mentally drained” afterwards, adding that the rain delay, the build-up and the atmosphere made it an especially intense occasion.
England’s route through the tournament
Robinson flew out on the 12th of June and said he has been moving around the tournament almost continuously since then. He was at the Club World Cup last summer as well, and has described the wider World Cup as a major show, with strong crowds and a different feel from what he had seen previously in the United States.
He also shared a lighter moment from the journey, saying he and John Murray watched Germany against Paraguay on a plane while flying with Delta, and heard the reaction to penalties being taken from other passengers.
For England, though, the focus is now on the quarter-final with Norway in Miami. Robinson’s verdict is clear: after the atmosphere, travel and emotion of the Mexico game, the conditions in Florida may prove the biggest challenge yet.
