Turn the clock back to 2006, and Robbo, England’s number one, lined up against Portugal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup - a Portuguese side including Cristiano Ronaldo and Figo pulling the strings.
Portugal went through to the semi-finals on penalties after a 0-0 draw – England down to 10 men on the hour following Wayne Rooney’s red card.
Twenty years later, Robbo’s at the quarter-finals again – this time as co-commentator and pundit on BBC Radio 5 Live as England take on Norway in Miami, with Erling Haaland up front and Martin Odegaard pulling the strings.
Despite the well documented threat of City striker Haaland – seen in full effect in the Round of 16 against Brazil – Robbo believes Thomas Tuchel will concentrate on the weapons at his disposal.
“I think Tuchel’s main concentration will be on how England can win the game rather than how not to lose,” the fans’ favourite told us exclusively from Miami, where he will team up again with commentator John Murray and broadcast to millions this evening.
Capped 41 times, 175 appearance for us (2004-2008) in 20 years as a professional, not only has Robbo started for England in a World Cup quarter-final, he’s also been there for every minute of the Three Lions’ tournament so far.
“I don't think England’s strategy will change,” he said. “You look at the teams that they've played against, there's big names and big players in all of those teams and the thing with Thomas Tuchel, the way that he does it is to play to their strengths rather than defending their weaknesses.
“England in the past, and even back to my generation, we've been guilty of defending our weaknesses rather than playing to strengths, whereas Thomas Tuchel plays to England's strengths, he knows what the weaknesses are and he doesn't try and defend them.
“Croatia for instance (4-2 win, first group game), Tuchel will make changes that affect the game where England can go on and win with the players that they've got, rather than try and defend what they're not very good at.
“So, that's what I think he'll do. I don't think he'll look at Haaland. I don't think he'll look at the problems that Norway will cause. Obviously, it would be flippant not to do that type of due diligence but, actually, I think his main concentration will be on how England can win the game rather than how not to lose.
“I think the Mexico result (3-2 in Round of 16) will have done England the absolute world of good. You talk about growing into a tournament, but the camaraderie, the togetherness and what we saw in the tunnel and around the dressing room areas after that game, that will have brought them together even more. With that confidence, for me, they're huge favourites going into this game.”