Republic of Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane jokes that his “soft hotel bed” is his only complaint with the Irish squad’s arrangements for Euro 2016.
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However, asked about his new deal for the first time by the media after putting his players through their paces at an open training session at the Stade de Montbauron in Versailles on Thursday, O’Neill admitted it is yet to be physically signed.
Robbie Keane has been working hard to get back to full fitness.
Besides the 6-foot-5 team skipper, there is no other familiar worldwide player in the lineup and so they will have a hard time matching up with the other teams that do.
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill believes that Robbie Keane could be available for Ireland’s Euro 2016 opener against Sweden on Monday.
HUNDREDS of football fans from across Tyrone will join a mass exodus of Northern Ireland and Republic Of Ireland supporters heading for the Euros in France this weekend.
No matter how many players pleaded with him to apologise, Keane could not bring himself to do so, flying home to walk his dogs in Cheshire.
Ibrahimovic’s burgeoning partnership with winger Emil Forsberg is likely to cause problems down Ireland’s right flank, where full back Seamus Coleman should be partnered by combative Jon Walters who looks to have got over an Achilles problem.
“We’ve had the opening game now and there’s a decent buzz amongst the squad”, he said.
Hamann describes the Tipperary native player as the “ultimate team player” and expects a strong showing in the tournament after such a starring role with the Saints at the tail-end of the English season. He only started three of the 11 qualifiers for which he was fit; his goal against the Germans duly came from the bench, with the Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy’s physical presence preferred, and it would not be a stretch to frame that as a pivotal moment in his career.
The striker is without a club for next season and, amid links to Manchester United, will be relishing the chance to shine on the global stage.
Ireland’s record in ten matches against Sweden is W3 D2 L5 (W0 D2 L4 in competitive fixtures).
“Training has been ratcheted up further”.
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“It has been an incredibly good intensity and quality and that’s the way it should be”. Ibrahimovic is looking to become the first player to score at four separate European Championships. The Boys in Green finished third in Group D and conceded just seven goals in their 10 matches, with a 1-0 win over World Cup holders Germany a feat they will hope to repeat if they are to spring a surprise in the finals.
