The Republic of Ireland squad have received an early ear-bashing from Roy Keane as the national team’s assistant manager slated their performance in home defeat to Belarus.
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Keane is equally prepared for a late curveball, similar to Harry Arter’s withdrawal because of a thigh injury on Monday, but admits some things are out of the coaching staff’s hands.
“It’s part of the game. But I think if Murph scores a victor in one of the group matches I don’t think any of us would be too critical of the previous chances that he missed”.
Keane, forced himself to play a long for a moment: “I’ll obviously head home”, he said before, more seriously, moving on to talk about the progress that has been made on so many fronts since the dark days of you know where.
The problem casts a doubt over whether or not Keane will make the cut for what is likely to be his last major global tournament, and missing out would be a devastating blow to a player who no doubt feels that he can add to his 143 caps in France.
The 21-year-old, who helped Oxford to promotion from League Two this season, so impressed the management team during his time with the Ireland squad that he has stayed on to train with the remaining 23.
Captain Robbie Keane was named in the final squad despite picking up a calf injury at the weekend.
Keane, whose club managerial career thus far with Ipswich and Sunderland has failed to hit the heights his playing career did, was especially scathing about experienced winger Aiden McGeady.
The ESPN FC crew weigh in on Roy Keane’s comments regarding Ireland’s 2-1 defeat by Belarus. We’ve previously seen him with the U21s but it’s good to get a close look at him.
James McCarthy missed both friendlies, but unlike Keane, he was a central figure in qualification and, despite his fitness worries, the Everton midfielder is poised to start the Sweden encounter. “Shane is thinking every time he gets on the pitch he fancies his chances of scoring”.
Indeed, the superb form of Shane Long – who has emerged as a top worldwide striker – aside, Ireland look particularly weak upfront.
O’Neill admitted the decision-making process had been a hard one.
“I’m sure if you spoke to Shane the first thing he would say is that he is feeling very, very confident”. I think that should be the remit for most professional footballers but some players can’t seem to do that.
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“They should be counting their blessing that they’ve managed to get on the flight”.
