Golden oldies: Peter Shilton (far left) and Gordon Banks train in 1974 at Stoke

The disastrous qualification campaign for Euro 2008 ended with Scott Carson in possession of the No 1 jersey and, by the start of the 2010 World Cup, Green was in the role.

Not that Capello selected Green with any great confidence. He agonised over the selection and left it until the very last minute, concerned that Green was a conservative choice when faced with one goalkeeper he feared was a bit too old and another who was a bit too young.

Roy Hodgson has no such worries this time. Hart is among the first names on his team sheet and someone the England manager likened to Gordon Banks after seeing him secure a clean sheet against Belgium on Saturday. It was his seventh in 15 starts since the last World Cup.

'If you look at the top England teams of the past, and the teams that have done extremely well in the past, we have often had a goalkeeper who people have  suggested is one of the best in Europe or, in the case of Gordon Banks, one of the best in the world,' said Hodgson.

'I agree 100 per cent with Brian Clough's view on this. He always placed great faith in goalkeepers. He felt having a top goalkeeper got you a lot of points every year. He produces the save that a normal goalkeeper wouldn't and that lifts your team higher up the league.

'It also gives confidence to the defenders, which is another factor. I thought Joe was competent (against Belgium). For long periods he didn’t have a lot to do. When they don’t have a lot to do, they start to practise their kicking. They do the cleverer kicks or the better kicks.

'When they have a lot to do, they are quite happy to throw it out and get a bit of a breather.

'But I agree he will be vital. His form for Manchester City has been superb and when he has played for England he has done very well. If we are to do well there is no doubt we will need Joe Hart in top form.'

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