England goalkeeper Robert Green and Algerian guardian Faouzi Chaouchi may have been subjected to ridicule after their howlers in their respective weekend World Cup matches, but it is nothing new for people who have occupied that isolated position.

It may be a team game but goalkeeping errors are the ones that stick in people's memories, whilst outfield players who miss penalties get a sympathetic pat on the back and generally sensitive press coverage.

While strikers more often than not grab the glory it is the goalkeeper who is the regular butt of people's humour and ire.

Green was well advised to take to the golf course on Sunday, after his error gifted the Americans an equaliser in the 1-1 draw, than read headlines such as 'Hand of Clod' and 'This is one spill that the Americans would have liked' - the latter referring to the ongoing spat between the two countries over BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Green and Chaouchi - who also was at fault for Slovenia's goal in the 1-0 defeat - have not resorted to blaming the much-maligned Jabulani official football, though, several of their counterparts such as Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon have given it the thumbs down.

"Rotten" opined Spain's Casillas, "unpredictable" commented Italy's World Cup winning 'keeper Buffon, who went on to say that it was 'a disgrace that such a rotten ball was being used in such a great tournament'.

However, Green and Chaouchi will not be the last 'keepers to have their mistakes emblazoned all over the internet or on TV - and they are the latest in a long list to be pilloried.

Rare is it that goalkeepers are remembered for winning games, even Gordon Banks' stunning save from Pele in a 1970 World Cup group match ended in a 1-0 defeat.

However, Banks was much-needed when having been laid-low through illness his replacement Peter Bonetti did not live up to his nickname 'The Cat' as West Germany defeated England 3-2 in the quarter-final with Bonetti being blamed for the defeat.

South American countries too have provided a fair quota of eccentric goalkeepers, good entertainment if you are an opposing player or sitting in the crowd a nightmare if you are in the same team.

Rene Higuita of Colombia had his moments of inspiration but also reflected his nickname of 'El Loco' such as his indecisiveness on the ball when well outside his area in the 1990 World Cup match with Cameroon which resulted in Roger Milla scoring and the Colombians going home.

Neither England nor Algeria are on their way home yet, but should they depart after the first round Green and Chaouchi can expect no quarter - such is the fate of the goalkeeper.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP