After being caught out a couple of times during England’s midweek friendly in Sweden, Joe Hart will be looking to prove once again why he is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Fortunately for Hart, the unusual headed clearance he made before Sweden’s fourth goal of the game was overshadowed by the quite spectacular strike from Zlatan Ibrahivomic that followed, which would go on to steal the headlines after the big forward’s incredible four-goal performance. Earlier in the match, England’s number one was caught out by a free kick from the PSG striker, with many pundits feeling that the keeper should have done better and kept the effort out.
Hart’s unusually dodgy performance may have had a lot to do with a lack of confidence in new centre back pairing Gary Cahill and Steven Caulker, with the latter making his international debut. Whatever the reason, this was a match in which Hart failed to live up to the standards fans have come to expect from him. These expectations were of the goalkeeper’s own making, created after he played a huge role between the sticks for Manchester City last season and helping the club to win their first Premier League title.
With an important set of fixtures in the run-up to Christmas, Roberto Mancini will be hoping Hart can regain the confidence that made him such a leading figure in City’s title-winning season. The club’s Champions League dreams are hanging in the balance, emphasising the importance that they don’t fall behind in the race for Premier League dominance.
Joe Hart has saved his team on countless occasions, keeping them in games and earning them vital points. It’s time for him to put his recent shocker on the international stage behind him and get back to his best for City.