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Paul Robinson retires from international football

Paul Robinson will focus on Blackburn Rovers © Getty Images

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Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson has announced his retirement from international football after having been handed a place in Fabio Capello's England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Hungary.

Robinson, 30, made his international debut in 2003 and became first-choice during the 2006 World Cup, but he was widely blamed for England's defeat against Croatia in qualification for Euro 2008 and he was later dropped by then England boss Steve McClaren.

Capello called Robinson into his squad in 2009 for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra, but he was unable to force his way into the side and was left out of the squad for South Africa in favour of David James, Robert Green and Joe Hart.

On Saturday night, Capello handed Robinson a recall for next week's friendly match, but the former Leeds and Tottenham 'keeper has taken the opportunity to announce that he has no interest in being a squad player for his country.

In a statement, he said: "Only now have I been able to make this decision because previously I have not been in contention or selected for the squad.

"As a professional, you want every chance to play football. I do not see myself as a No. 3 or 4 goalkeeper. I find that role very frustrating. I haven't had the opportunity to be anything other than this in recent years.

"Therefore, I feel it's in the best interests of myself and my club, Blackburn Rovers, to concentrate solely on my club football. I wish the England team every success."

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce said in May that there was no logical explanation for Robinson's omission from the World Cup squad.

"I am staggered, totally," Allardyce said. "It is completely the wrong decision. If you look at Paul's form for Rovers, there has not been a better goalkeeper who has been so consistent.

"It clearly can't be anything else other than Fabio has something else against him, because he has always said the people in form would get selected.

"There is nobody better than Paul Robinson at the moment, so there must be something before that that has happened to put him [Capello] off him as a person and not as a goalkeeper. He has made the biggest mistake of his selection process, has Fabio. As much as I respect him for what he has done that is one big, big mistake."

The FA has said it will not call up a replacement for Robinson, leaving Hart and Ben Foster battling for the chance to face Hungary.

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