Former England boss Sir Bobby Robson is against the selection of Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia for the national team.

In his column for the Mail on Sunday, Robson wrote: "Fine goalkeeper that he is, it would be ridiculous for Manuel Almunia to play for England. I will go on record and say I would not have picked him as England manager - and I hope Fabio Capello does the same.

"Regardless of whether he attains a British passport, having lived here for five years, the sight of Almunia wearing the Three Lions would set a very worrying precedent.

"Because of the money in the Premier League, the best young Brazilians, Spaniards and Africans are all coming here to try to make their way in the game.

"If Almunia plays for us in the World Cup, there is nothing to stop an England dressing room in a few years including Rafael Da Silva at right-back, Federico Macheda up front and numerous other foreign players from the youth academies of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea."