Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton MBE OBE (born Leicester, England, September 18, 1949) was an outstanding goalkeeper who holds the record for most international appearances for his country.

Disaster at Euro 88

However, he continued to play for England, featuring in a straightforward and successful qualification campaign for the 1988 European Championships, which were to be held in West Germany.

Related Topics:
1988 European Championships - West Germany

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Shilton had won his 90th cap for England in a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in a European Championship qualifier - as it turned out, his 100th cap was due during the finals themselves, assuming he was selected, though this looked a certainty.

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It was so, but England's performance in Germany was woeful. Shilton's 99th cap came in a humiliating 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland; his 100th, against Holland, therefore carried real importance as well as sentiment and achievement. Marco van Basten ruined Shilton's day and England's hopes of progress with a ruthless second half hat-trick as England lost 3-1. Robson left Shilton out of the third and final group game as it was now meaningless, but England still managed to lose it, also 3-1. Chris Woods, longtime understudy to Shilton (and his teenage understudy a decade earlier at Forest - he had played in the League Cup final when Shilton was cup-tied) was given a rare game.

Related Topics:
Republic of Ireland - Holland - Marco van Basten - Chris Woods

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Some claimed it made sense for Shilton to retire from his England career afterwards with precisely 100 caps to his name. But Shilton continued and Robson was happy to keep selecting him. Shilton played in all bar one of the England games over the next 18 months - the one he missed saw a debut for a future England goalkeeping great, David Seaman of Queens Park Rangers.

Related Topics:
David Seaman - Queens Park Rangers

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