Robert Green - International Career

International Career

Green earned his first call-up to the full England squad in 2004 while at Norwich and a year later became the sixth Norwich player in history to wear the Three Lions when he appeared as a substitute against Colombia in the United States. Green remained in the England squad despite Norwich having been relegated to the Championship in 2005 and was selected for the England 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. However, he ruptured his groin whilst taking a goal kick during the England B international against Belarus on 25 May. He was replaced in the squad by Liverpool's Scott Carson. The injury not only meant that Green missed the FIFA World Cup but also the start of the 2006–07 season. After a prolonged absence from the international scene, Green was called up for the England "B" match in May 2007 and then named in the senior England squad to face Brazil and Estonia in June 2007. Green did not make Fabio Capello's first England team in February 2008. Green showed a sense of humour about the international situation, sporting gloves with 'England's No.6' embroidered on them. He was recalled to the squad by Fabio Capello in place of the injured Chris Kirkland for England's friendly with France on 26 March 2008. On 12 February 2009, Green earned his 2nd cap, coming on as a second half substitute during England's 0–2 defeat to Spain in Seville. On 6 June 2009 Green made his first England start in their 4–0 win in Almaty against Kazakhstan in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying game. He played for England against Croatia on 9 September 2009 with England securing a place in South Africa with a 5–1 victory. On 10 October 2009, he became the first ever England goalkeeper to be sent off, during the penultimate game of qualification against Ukraine, for a professional foul on Artem Milevskiy early in the game. England went on to lose 1–0.

Green was named in England's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Manager Fabio Capello opted not to name his first choice goalkeeper until the day of England's opening match, against the United States on 12 June, at which point he selected Green to start. After England went into a 1–0 lead, Green failed to save a long-range shot from USA midfielder Clint Dempsey in the 40th minute. The incident saw the ball bounce on and off Green's gloves and go over the goal line. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Following this error and an unconvincing final training session on 17 June, Green was dropped. He was replaced by David James who played in England's next game, a 0–0 draw against Algeria on 18 June. He did not appear again in the World Cup and was omitted from the first England squad named after the tournament for a friendly against Hungary.

Green was brought back into the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in October 2010. On 16 May 2012, new England manager Roy Hodgson named Green as part of his 23 man squad for UEFA Euro 2012. On 26 May, he played his first game since the World Cup, and kept a clean sheet as England defeated Norway 1–0 in a friendly.