My debut for Republic was bitter-sweet, admits Robinson
REPUBLIC of Ireland new boy Callum Robinson admitted to mixed feelings after making his international bow.
The Preston striker was capped by England right through from Under-16 to Under-20 level.
But Northampton-born Robinson switched international allegiance and made his Republic debut in Thursday’s 4-1 Nations League defeat to Wales in Cardiff.
“It was huge for me. I had butterflies in my belly before the game,” Robinson said.
“Obviously I was honoured and grateful that the gaffer (Mar- tin O’Neill) trusted me to play.
“It would have been lovely to top it off with a result. That hasn’t happened, so I’m gutted from a team point of view.”
The 23-year-old Robinson (below) declared for the Republic in March after making over 30 appearances for England at age-grade level.
H e q u a l i fies through his Monaghan-born grandmother and described it as a proud moment for his family.
“All my family were here and I know that I’ve made them proud, especially my mum,” Robinson said. “My grandmother passed away when my mum was really young, so I know she’ll be looking down on me.
“It’s a big moment in my career but a big moment for the family as well.”
The Republic had a troubled build-up to the Cardiff clash with Harry Arter involved in a spat with assistant manager Roy Keane and West Ham defender Declan Rice considering switching his international allegiance to England. Both players made themselves unavailable as a result and Republic boss O’Neill also had to contend with a lengthy injury list which deprived him of several first-team regulars.
The Republic were 4-0 down inside 55 minutes, and O’Neill’s squad now head to Poland for a friendly on Tuesday night aiming to restore confidence ahead of their second Nations League game against Denmark next month.
“Obviously we could have defended a little bit better, but that’s football,” Robinson said.
“In some games you’ll get away with a few errors but Wales took their chances.
“We could probably have been a bit braver on the ball, but I don’t think there’s anything too deep to it.
“We just didn’t give ourselves a good start to the game and it became difficult from there.” ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate knows his young squad have come a long way since paper aeroplanes were thrown onto the Wembley pitch — but warned the World Cup semi-finalists must continue to improve.
Southgate’s side take on Spain in their opening Uefa Nations League clash tonight before facing Switzerland at Leicester’s King Power Stadium in a friendly next week.
The Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia united the nation earlier this summer, restoring public affection after several tournaments of disappointment.
Southgate, though, believes it is the time to look forward and move on from the defeat to Croatia in Moscow.
“Over the summer (at the World Cup) you are looking for results, now it is about developing the team and improvement, looking at how we play, the tactical detail and testing ourselves against some really top teams,” the England manager said.
“It is great we have got a full house (at Wembley) and we can step out in front of our own fans, and everyone will feel the appreciation — but now it is about the next challenge.
“The summer is finished, we’ve got to move forward, continually evolve. Sport doesn’t stand still and you have to improve. What comes next is the most important thing.
“It is brilliant that there is this excitement around international football because one of our ambitions is to improve that connection with the supporters, so the impact of the team over the summer was really pleasing.
“A year ago we had paper aeroplanes landing in the pitch when we qualified, so that is great credit to the players.”
Spain failed to make it past the last-16 at the World Cup after being beaten on penalties by hosts Russia. But Southgate is not expecting an easy ride.
“There will be some differences that (new head coach) Luis Enrique wants to impose. They have some wonderful footballers and it will be tough,” he said.
England captain Harry Kane secured the Golden Boot at the World Cup with six goals.
The Tottenham forward is set to wear a special pair of boots at Wembley to mark the achievement as he receives the personal trophy before kick-off.
But the 25-year-old Englishman believes he still has work to do before being compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“They have set an unbelievable standard but they are the heights to reach,” Kane said. “To finish a World Cup as top goalscorer was something I was proud of, but now it’s on to more.”
Meanwhile, Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has described La Liga plans to stage a game in America next January as “an invasion of that country”.
Girona said they were “working with the league and Barcelona” about what is thought to be a match in Miami on January 27. But Rubiales has hit out at La Liga president Javier Tebas.
He said: “Javier Tebas spoke to everyone except the people he had to,” Rubiales said.
“Taking the competition somewhere else represents an invasion of that country.”