Editing Bobby Robson (section)

=== England manager ===
Robson's achievements with Ipswich earned him a job offer from the Football Association for the position of national coach in July 1982, and he declined an offer of a ten-year contract extension and increased salary from Ipswich director Patrick Cobbold.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/102 102]
 | chapter = A town awakes
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/102
 }}</ref> On 7 July 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]], he succeeded [[Ron Greenwood]] as coach of the England national team,<ref name=espn/><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/31/sir-bobby-robson-obituary |title=Sir Bobby Robson | first=Brian | last=Glanville |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=31 July 2009|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> selecting former West Bromwich Albion teammate Don Howe as his chief coach.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m2j5ZKj993QC&q=robson+appointed+england+manager+%22don+howe%22&pg=PT84
| last = Robson
| title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
| date = 10 August 2006
| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
| isbn = 9781848946460
| access-date =4 February 2013}}</ref>

Robson's first match in charge saw immediate controversy, as he dropped [[Kevin Keegan]] for the match against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/108 108]
 | chapter = Slings and arrows
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/108
 }}</ref> On 21 September 1983, Robson suffered his only loss in the 28 qualifying matches he was to undertake as England manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamMgr/Mgr_Robson.html |title=Bobby Robson |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young |date=23 June 2012 |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The defeat, again to Denmark, ultimately led to England's failure to qualify for the [[UEFA Euro 1984|1984 European Championships]]<ref name="euro record">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050404025043/http://www.thefa.com/Euro2004/History/Postings/2004/05/Euro2004_History_EnglandRecord.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 4 April 2005
 |title=England's Euro record
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> and resulted in Robson offering to resign in favour of [[Brian Clough]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/110 110]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/110
 }}</ref> The resignation was rejected by FA chairman [[Bert Millichip]] (primarily down to his and the FA's disdain for the controversial and outspoken Clough), and Robson went on to lead the England team to qualify for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]] in Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20131118020841/http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=368804&root=worldcup25&&cc=5739
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-date = 18 November 2013
 | title = The time is now
 | date = 24 May 2006
 | access-date = 17 November 2013
 | publisher = ESPN
 }}</ref>

England made a slow start at the World Cup, and captain [[Bryan Robson]] was injured with a recurrence of a dislocated shoulder.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
 |title=WORLD CUP 1986
 |work=web.ukonline.co.uk
 |access-date=17 June 2007
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501015338/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ic.ic/worldcup86a.html
 |archive-date=1 May 2007
 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bobby Robson changed the team's tactics for the final match of the first round, selecting [[Peter Beardsley]] ahead of [[Mark Hateley]] as a strike partner for [[Gary Lineker]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/121 121]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/121
 }}</ref> The team won its next two matches, against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]], 3–0, and qualified for the quarter-finals.<ref name=wc86>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851052.stm
| title = World Cup history&nbsp;– Mexico 1986
| date = 4 May 2006
| access-date =23 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> England were defeated in the last eight by [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] with a brace of goals from [[Diego Maradona]], the infamous [[Hand of God goal|"Hand of God" goal]] and the "[[Goal of the Century]]" he scored five minutes later.<ref name=wc86/> Robson was unimpressed by Maradona's claim of divine intervention:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/116 116]
 | chapter = A left hook
 | year = 2005
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/116
 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|It wasn't the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it... That day, Maradona was diminished in my eyes forever.}}

Robson's England dropped only one point in qualifying for [[UEFA Euro 1988|Euro 1988]], which included an 8–0 victory over [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]].<ref name="euro record"/> However, this was followed by failure at the tournament itself, held in West Germany, where England were eliminated in the group stage. They finished bottom of their [[UEFA Euro 88#Group B|group]], succumbing to defeats against the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]], the eventual winners, the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], and the eventual runners-up, the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406092625/http://www.thefa.com/euro2004/History/Postings/2003/01/36711.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 6 April 2005
 |title=1988 European Championship
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> Robson was vilified by the British press, and after a draw in a friendly with [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in November 1988, one newspaper demanded, "In the name of Allah, go."<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/983995.stm
| title = English football's elder statesman
|work=BBC Sport
| date = 21 August 2000
| access-date =31 August 2007
}}</ref> Again Robson submitted his resignation, and again it was rejected by Millichip (again the FA's unwillingness to offer the job to Brian Clough is often cited as a reason).<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/112 112]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/112
 }}</ref>

Robson led England without conceding a goal through [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 2|the six-match qualification]] for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]] where they were one of six seeded teams.<ref name="italia 90">{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpWC/CmpWC1990Finals.html
|title=Italy 1990 |work=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young
|date=27 May 2014 |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> Again they were placed in a group with the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland, with [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] the fourth side.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1990/wc90index.html
|title=World Cup 1990 – Match schedule
|work=Planet World Cup |publisher=Jan Alsos
|access-date=16 June 2007}}</ref> As in the 1986 World Cup, Robson was denied the service of his captain, Bryan Robson, who injured his [[achilles tendon]] which prevented him playing in the latter stages of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406221015/http://www.thefa.com/Features/EnglishDomestic/Postings/2003/10/71764.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date= 6 April 2005
 |title=Robbo ready for new challenge
 |publisher=The Football Association
 |access-date=16 August 2007
 |date=30 October 2003}}</ref> England topped their group, accumulating four points from their three matches.<ref name=italia90/> However, their progress was not without controversy. England changed formation from their traditional 4–4–2 to 5–3–2 incorporating a [[Sweeper (soccer)|sweeper]], with some sources suggesting this was due to player revolt after the 1–1 draw in the first match with the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3808127.stm
| title = Sven's toughest test?
| access-date =23 August 2007
| date = 16 June 2004
|first=Tom |last=Fordyce
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson denied this claim:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Robson
 | title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
 | chapter = Zeroes to heroes
 | year = 2005
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/132 132]
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | isbn = 0-340-84064-1
 | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/farewellbutnotgo0000robs/page/132
 }}</ref>{{blockquote|...I made the switch, not them. I had no intention of allowing [[Marco van Basten|van Basten]] and [[Ruud Gullit|Gullit]] to rip holes in us...}}
This was followed by victories over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] and [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]] in the knock-out stages, to set up a semi-final with [[Germany national football team|West Germany]].<ref name=italia90>{{cite news
 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1923000/1923882.stm
 | title=Statistics: Italy 1990
 |work=BBC Sport
 | access-date=16 August 2007
 | date = 12 April 2002
}}</ref> England lost the match on a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]], after the score had been tied at 1–1 following [[extra time]].<ref name=wc90>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4851148.stm
| title = World Cup history&nbsp;– Italy 1990
| date = 27 April 2006
| access-date =23 May 2007
|work=BBC Sport
}}</ref> Robson said afterwards: "[N]ot a day goes by when [he] does not think about the semi-final and other choices [he] might have made."<ref name="espn"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/well-done-sir-bobby-1-2124122 |title=Well done Sir Bobby |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |location=Leeds |date=11 December 2007|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> Robson was the second coach, after [[Alf Ramsey]], to take England to a World Cup semi-final, and the first coach to do so on foreign soil, an achievement not equalled until [[Gareth Southgate]]'s team reached the semi-finals of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 | work = [[East Anglian Daily Times]] | title = Ramsey, Robson... Southgate? A proud record Ipswich Town fans will be happy to see scrubbed | date = 7 July 2018 | first = Stuart | last = Watson | access-date = 21 March 2018 | archive-date = 21 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190321115655/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Robson's final game in charge of England was the third-place play off against hosts [[Italy national football team|Italy]], which England lost 2–1. He then took on the role as manager of PSV Eindhoven, and [[Graham Taylor]] was announced as his successor.