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This article was first published 13 years ago

Images: English goalkeepers in blunderland

Last updated on: June 17, 2010 09:17 IST

Image: England's goalkeepers Joe Hart (left), David James (centre) and Robert Green during a training session

England's Robert Green was ridiculed after his embarrassing gaffe handed the United States and equaliser in the team's World Cup match on Saturday but the country's national team has a history of goalkeeping blunders.

Even the nation's finest goalkeepers, dating back to Gil Merrick, who died earlier this year, but who was on the receiving end of a 6-3 defeat by Hungary at Wembley in November, 1953, have endured nightmare experiences.

A look at the most famous, or infamous, blunders:

Photographs: Reuters

Bonetti gifted Beckenbauer a goal

Image: Peter Bonetti during an exhibition soccer match
Peter Bonetti, who conceded a goal to a low bobbling long shot from Germany's Franz Beckenbauer in a 3-2 defeat in Mexico, in 1970.

Shilton blundered twice!

Image: Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton, who allowed a soft, low effort from Poland's Jan Domarski to beat him and eliminate England in a key World Cup qualifier at Wembley in October, 1973.

Shilton was also dispossessed by Robert Baggio, who promptly scored, while trying to dribble during the third-place play-off against Italy in the 1990 World Cup finals. He was England's most-capped player with 125 appearances, but that was his last before retiring, in Italy's 2-1 win.

Clemence let Dalglish shot through his legs

Image: Ray Clemence
Ray Clemence, the current England coach, who allowed a Kenny Dalglish shot to go through his legs for a Scotland goal in Glasgow, in May, 1976.

Seaman left all at sea by Ronaldinho

Image: David Seaman
David Seaman is left stranded out of position as a swirling angled cross-shot from a free-kick by Brazil's Ronaldinho flies over his head and into the top corner in a World Cup quarter-final in Shizuoko, Japan, in June, 2002.

James lived up to his 'Calamity' nickname

Image: David James
David James, one of the current trio in the squad, lived up to his "Calamity" nickname when he allowed a speculative shot from Andreas Ivanschitz to beat him from long range in a 2-2 draw with Austria in a World Cup qualifier in Vienna in September, 2004.

When Robinson kicked thin air

Image: Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson kicks thin air and misses a Gary Neville back pass in a 2-0 defeat by Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Zagreb, in October, 2006. He has not been picked for England again.

Carson failed on his debut

Image: Scott Carson
Scott Carson, a shock selection playing on his debut, allows a tame shot from Nico Kranjcar to bounce off his gloves and roll beneath him in a calamitous 3-2 defeat for England by Croatia at Wembley in the return Euro 2008 qualifier in November, 2007. Manager Steve McClaren was dismissed the following day

Green missed Dempsey's low shot

Image: Robert Green
Robert Green, in only his ninth start for England, allows a low bouncing shot from Clint Dempsey to squirm through his grasp as the United States claim a 1-1 draw at the World Cup finals in South Africa in June, 2010.
Source: REUTERS
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