“Not many teams qualify for major tournaments”. In the seven meetings since, there have been six draw and one Irish victory.
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“It doesn’t happen very often”.
Supporters captured the moment before posting the clip on social media, with Long showing his talents on the guitar and Keane leading the sing song accompanied by the Canaries’ pair.
“I was so disappointed to miss out on the last one, although I have no complaints about not being there”.
It’s great for a few of the lads who have not made it [before] – Seamus Coleman, who is a top-class player, an absolutely top-class player – and for a few of the older members, who are roughly the same age as myself.
“There’s nobody to blame, we’re all in this together”. Martin and the staff plus the players will not want to go over and make up the numbers. The togetherness of this group, the spirit we have on and off the field is incredible. “Doing your best, that is all you can ask”.
“We played as well as we could, and we tried to match the Irish players in an aggressive game”.
“I probably double-bluffed him because he’s seen a few penalties recently I’ve hit to the other side – I know he watches them – so it was just head down, hit the target and hope for the best”.
The clear message from Keane was “don’t mess with us”. “I don’t think I’m working for Martin O’Neill or the FAI, I’m working with them – and that’s a big difference”.
“It was a great performance. They’re a fantastic bunch who want to play for their country and they have put their heart and soul into these games”.
After the last of the 24 qualifiers continue to book their places through the playoff round this week, the majority of UEFA’s seedings for the group stage draw have now been determined.
Nobody needs to remind the team’s talisman that the high of reaching the 2012 European Championships was soon eroded by three defeats in the group stages.
Keane looks to the future, and not the past.
“I was at the Euros four years ago, but I didn’t feel part of the team because I had nothing to do with the [qualifying] campaign”.
“It’s unbelievable. We’re through and that’s all that matters”, he said. “But I would like to say the referee did not do his job properly in this game”.
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However, it was his decision to employ Robbie Brady at left-back rather than in the midfield role he occupied in Bosnia which was to pay dividends before the break.
