Following their 3-0 victory the Belgian team move to second in the group standings, behind Italy, while Ireland sit bottom with only one point from their two matches.
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It was the nature of that loss which so exercised Keane, with missed tackles by James McCarthy and Ciaran Clark contributing to both Romelu Lukaku’s goals.
Keane said: “I am not talking about our players, but you get some players showing for it, but they’re not really showing for it. You want to see the whites of their eyes – do you want the ball?” “Of course you’ve got to deserve it, and knowing the coach he will want that every player gives 100 percent even if we’re already through”.
“It’s easier said that done and we’ve had a huge disappointment against Belgium, but I can’t wait for the game on Wednesday, it’s part of life that you get ready for the next challenge”, added Keane, who has so far been impressed with Wednesday’s opponents.
Hoolahan’s beautifully taken goal against Sweden capped a fine individual display and sparked an immediate response from family and friends as the nation saw cause for genuine optimism. If you can hold the ball up then fantastic.
“I think the big thing for us was to make sure we started the second half quicker and we didn’t do that”, O’Shea told RTE after the match.
“But if you think “we’re in trouble here” then yeah, you do whatever you can to try and get the right result”.
“You know what he brings to the team”.
Lukaku played a huge role in answering any questions over Belgium’s Euro 2016 credentials with his two goals. It’s not an impossible mission we’re on.
Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who played for three seasons under Conte at Juventus, said in his autobiography that the coach would come into the dressing room at halftime and throw bottles of fizzy mineral water against the walls in a fit of rage.
Ireland, conversely, went into the game in relatively high spirits.
“If you speak to the player he’s improving every day but the game is coming up quickly”.
“They are a good team with Zlatan Ibrahimovic a classy player”. If Ireland win too, then the sides will be split on goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary ranking and finally coefficient.
Northern Ireland have a task of equal magnitude to the Republic when they take on Germany in Group C tomorrow night, and winger Jamie Ward believes that hard work will be the key to success.
“The problem is when you’re chasing the ball quite a bit and you do get it, your concentration levels can be down and that’s when you make mistakes”, said Keane.
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“Sometimes you need a setback, because we have a young squad”.
