Robinson's rise 'boosts cup claims for England'

Paul Robinson's emergence as a top-class goalkeeper has transformed England into potential World Cup winners, according to the former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus.

The former World Cup winner believes that Spurs' keeper Robinson is the missing link in Sven Goran Eriksson's side and that David Seaman's clanger against Brazil in 2002 proved the importance of having a top-class keeper.

"I believe a big factor is that, after five or six years, England has a good goalkeeper in Paul Robinson," Matthaus said. "He can make the difference between this World Cup and the last two big tournaments. You will struggle to get to the final if you do not have a good keeper.

"Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all bought foreign keepers because there is a problem with English goalkeepers, but now you have Robinson."