Roy Keane is expecting the Republic of Ireland’s record goalscorer, Robbie Keane, to be ready to face Germany on Thursday despite the recent arrival of his second son. The 35-year-old LA Galaxy striker was not due to arrive in Dublin until Tuesday evening after his wife, Claudine, gave birth in America.
Asked if his former team-mate would be available for the critical match against the Group D leaders at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland’s assistant manager said: “Yes, why wouldn’t he be? He didn’t have the baby. Unless he’s breastfeeding he should be all right.”
The striker was part of the team that secured a famous 1-1 draw with the world champions courtesy of John O’Shea’s injury-time strike in Gelsenkirchen in October last year, and a repeat at the Aviva could have a major say in whether or not they make it to the finals in France next summer.
That result came amid an uncharacteristically slow start to the campaign by Joachim Löw’s men, who have since put together a run of five successive qualifier victories. However, while the former Manchester United captain Keane admits they will be a different proposition this time around, he is confident Ireland have improved too.
He said: “I think we are a stronger team. Like you’d expect with any campaign, teams improve. We were still new to the job at the time and, yes, I think we are a better team.
“But certainly Germany’s form, as you would have expected – they were a bit sluggish at the start, but with all the qualities they have it was only a matter of time before they started winning matches and topped the group, no doubt. But we will be ready.”
Ireland go into an intensely difficult pair of games – they face second-placed Poland in Warsaw on Sunday evening in their final match – knowing victory in just one of those matches will guarantee at least a third-place finish and a play-off spot. However, they are equally aware that should Scotland, who trail them by four points, beat both the Poles and Gibraltar, even creditable draws against the Germans and in Warsaw would mean they miss out.
O’Neill’s number two said: “I’ve said it before, this is what the players and this is what we are in the game for. It’s a big game, we are playing quality opposition. This is what it’s all about.”
The Republic have a series of selection headaches with the midfielders Glenn Whelan and James McClean suspended and the full-back Séamus Coleman, the central defender Marc Wilson and the playmaker Wes Hoolahan carrying knocks.
Cyrus Christie, who could yet deputise for the hamstring victim Coleman, did train at Abbotstown on Tuesday morning but the management team will keep their collective fingers crossed as they await news on their walking wounded.
The former Aston Villa assistant Keane adopted a similar stance to that of O’Neill over Jack Grealish’s decision to opt to represent England rather than Ireland. He had tried to persuade the 20-year-old to continue to play for the nation he has represented at age group levels up to under-21 during their time together in the Midlands but ultimately accepted his decision to choose the country of his birth.
O’Neill had earlier launched a stern defence of his handling of the situation, insisting he had not prostituted himself in a bid to land the youngster, and asked if everything had been done that could be done, Keane said: “Yes, absolutely. What more can you do?
“I think the manager did everything he could. Jack was already playing for Ireland and you were hoping that he’d continue. That’s life, you move on.”
No comments:
Post a Comment