this story is from April 23, 2014

Germany, Brazil are World Cup favourites: Bryan Robson

Character is what made Robson stand out from the rest. (TOI Photo)Character is what made Robson stand out from the rest. (TOI Photo)
It has been a while since Bryan Robson hung up his boots, but the legacy still remains. When Ryan Giggs - while giving interviews on this 40th birthday - talked about Captain Marvel's influence on his coming of age, the young world took notice of the leader who captained England and Manchester United with glory, guts and gumption.
Giggs recalled an incident from a match to explain the impact Robson had on his game while he was just starting out. "This Sheffield United right-back was kicking me, giving me a few verbals and it affected me a little bit. I said to Robbo: 'That right-back's just said he's going to break my legs.' Robbo said: 'Did he? You play central midfield. I'm going to play left wing for 10 minutes.' We swapped positions. Robbo soon came back: 'Aye, you're all right now, go back over'. Problem solved! I had this mentality that if Robson was playing we'd never lose. We usually won. He had that authority," Giggs said.

Character is what made Robson stand out from the rest. Apart from scoring in crisis situations and some magical ones - like the one at the 1982 World Cup which came in just 27 seconds against France - Robbo was someone who others looked up to. That record for the fastest World Cup goal stood for 20 years till Turkey's Hakan Sukur topped him in 2002.

Here, Robson talks about the World Cup in Brazil and analyses the chances of the top teams including his beloved England.

Excerpts from an e-mail interview:

With the World Cup 50 days away now, what are the thoughts crossing your mind?

A World Cup in Brazil is always going to be a special occasion. I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic tournament and I hope that England can go there and perform.

How do you see Roy Hodgson tackle the expectation that builds around England?

Roy is a great manager who has handled pressure at some of the biggest clubs in the world, and did a fantastic job with Switzerland at the 1994 World Cup. I'm sure he won't have any issues with the expectations on England.

The England side of 1990 had perhaps the best opportunity to make the final of the World Cup, even though you had a bad shoulder. How do you rate the current England squad compared to yours?

Both squads have fantastic players and it's always hard to compare teams from different eras. We had Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne whilst today's squad has Wayne Rooney and Gerrard, all fantastic players but with completely different styles. I think that all round we (1990) had a stronger squad and were seen as real contenders. This current England team may not be considered as strong, but there are still several world class players in it who are capable of winning games against top teams.

The 1986 World Cup, which England were progressing pretty well, was played in similar conditions that Hodgson's side would face in Brazil. What tips do you have for the current squad on how to tackle the conditions on Manaus?

The few weeks that England will spend in Brazil prior to the tournament will be important as they try to acclimatise to the weather. However, the conditions are the same for all players and these are extremely fit lads, so I don't see that being too much of a factor.

Captain, how do you solve the riddle of penalties?

I think its key to practice penalties. You need to choose your best six or seven penalty takers and practice every day after training. It's important to pick your spot and don't change your mind.

England's juniors also failed badly in Europe. Are the Three Lions suffering from a dearth in the talent pool? Say, compared to Spain or Argentina?

I don't think so. The U-21's are currently top of their group for the UEFA 2015 Championships without having lost a game and scoring 18 goals in their last 4 games! There are a number of players coming through the ranks such as Ross Barkley, Luke Shaw and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who could all travel to Brazil.

Which teams do you think are the better prepared ones for Brazil?

The Italians are always a good tournament team and will be up there again. Germany are also looking very well organised and strong contenders. Of course there are the holders Spain and the favourites Brazil, so it's going to be very competitive.

Both Brazil and England have new coaches for the World Cup. How do you think the hosts would fare under Phil Scolari?

As I say, they are the favourites. It's almost as though the script has been written for them to win it on home soil. I admire the Brazilian passion for football and the exciting style of play, so hope they do well.

What is your take about arch-rivals Germany? Are they the most settled team in the tournament, both in experience and talent?

I think they are the most settled European team at the moment. They have a good mix of youth and experience. Philipp Lahm is a fantastic player and experienced captain, they have strength in every area with players like Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Goetze and Mesut Ozil.

Messi, Cristiano, Neymar: who impresses you most and who do you think will leave the most indelible impression in Brazil?

For me it's between Messi and Ronaldo. Both have had poor World Cups in the past. Whoever steps up and makes mark for country in this tournament can be classed as the greatest player in the world at the moment.

Has the rise of the Premiership - in terms of popularity, reach and impact - helped the English footballer? Or have other countries, like Belgium, benefitted more from it? If so, why?

I think the standard of English football has improved since the Premiership came into force, however so has the standard of other nations. Belgium are going through a golden age in terms of talent at the moment and I'm sure England will have their time as well.

Will England ever win another World Cup?


Finally, who is your pick to win the World Cup?


What are you doing these days?

I'm lucky to be an Ambassador for Manchester United helping to bring the club closer to the millions of fans we have around the world.

How does the club stay in touch with its fans in India?

The club does lots to stay connected with fans in India, I've personally been there several times. We have also just launched our Manchester United Club App on iPhone and Android, which allows fans to follow the club wherever they are. The App is free to download now from the App store and Google Play store.
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