“We’ll keep it a close game and, if there’s a need to go for it during the match, we’ll do that”.
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Canaries boss Alex Neil will not want the Republic to take any risks on the player and will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the situation.
The Republic have a series of selection headaches with midfielders Glenn Whelan and James McClean suspended and full-back Seamus Coleman, central defender Marc Wilson and playmaker Wes Hoolahan carrying knocks.
Germany dropped points to Ireland and Poland early in the campaign but four wins from four in 2015 has put Joachim Löw’s sitting comfortably on top of the group.
Martin O’Neill’s No. 2 made a mocking suggestion that the ex-Tottenham striker, 35, would only be unfit to play if he had given birth himself, insisting Robbie Keane’s teets would be firmly tethered for Thursday’s clash with the world champions. The player had a massive decision to make, he’s made it and we move on. “That’s part of the game”. We were new to the job at the time. As you would expect with any campaign, teams improve.
He later posted a message that the couple had been left “overwhelmed by the amount of well wishes we received since announcing the baby news”, describing his older son’s reaction as “pure innocence from a very excited, slightly confused 6-year-old”.
Captain Robbie Keane has delayed his arrival in Irish camp after the birth of his second child, but his temporary absence is of no concern to Keane who claimed that “as long as he’s not breastfeeding he should be alright”.
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Germany were a bit sluggish at the start but with the qualities they have it was only a matter of time before they started winning matches. Of course, we have got to be set up right to try and stop them but we’ve also to play our game because we can’t get away from what we need to do to qualify.
