Keane focused on Slovakia
Credit:
Probably the biggest talking point ahead of Ireland's Euro 2012 Group B qualifying encounter with Slovakia is the decision by manager Giovanni Trapattoni to pick West Brom's Shane Long ahead of his former Reading compatriot Kevin Doyle for a game that could prove crucial in deciding the Republic's fate in this qualifying campaign.
Starting alongside him in attack will be Ireland's record goal-scorer Robbie Keane who, as has been the case since Steve Staunton stepped into the managerial hotseat, will also Captain the side in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening. Keane believes that Long's performances over the past 12 months have merited a place in the starting eleven, though he was quick to point out that he doesn't mind whether it is Long or Kevin Doyle that he plays with, as he believes that they are both very accomplished players.
“If you look at his (Long's) performances for Ireland in the last year or so, they've been very, very good, and his performances for his new club (West Brom). The two of them (Long and Kevin Doyle) are very similar players, so to me it's no different whether it is Shane or Kevin. The two of them are equally as good as each other, and they have the same qualities”, Keane stated.
The other eye-catching change in personnel sees former Bohs star Stephen Ward (now of course at Wolves with Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Foley) stepping into the left-back breach instead of the injured Kevin Kilbane. The Derby County man's back injury means that his run of 66 consecutive competitive appearances for Ireland is at an end, and Keane was full of praise for a player who has given magnificent service to the Boys In Green.
“He has been absolutely tremendous for Ireland. I don't think he probably gets the credit that he deserves. He's been a great, great player for this country, and I'm sure he'll continue to be so. He has back problems, that is what has ruled him out, but it really is a great achievement what he has done”.
“Especially in this day and age, a lot of players get a lot of injuries now, silly injuries. So, for Kevin to keep going at 34, to continue playing at the highest level, and not get many injuries, that's a great achievement in itself”.
Looking ahead to the challenge of Slovakia, Keane knows only full well that it is a must-win game for Ireland, and he revealed that no-one in the squad is looking beyond this game, even though a trip to Russia awaits them on Tuesday.
“I think every game is a must win game at this stage because, where we are, it is important that we don't lose any games now. These two games are the two toughest games that we could face. We go into every game wanting to win, so it won't be any different tomorrow. I'm certainly not going into the game thinking of Russia or the game after. I'm concentrated on tomorrow, and focused on getting three points”.
As an extension of that, the former Spurs striker feels it is important that they try and win the group if possible, as the play-offs have not always been kind to Ireland in the past.
“Well, our main aim is to win the group. You don't go into any group and think that you want to finish second. Circumstances change that, but we're prepared to win the group, we've been in play-offs way too many times. It hasn't gone our way on a few occasions”.
One potential plus for Ireland going in this game is that Slovakia may well be without their Captain, the gifted Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik. Keane is fully aware of how important a player Hamsik is, and also of the qualities in their side, but feels that Ireland should be focusing on themselves rather than on the opposition.
“Obviously, he's their captain and he's a good player. We're focused on our job rather than worrying too much about the Slovakia team. They're a good team, and we're well aware of that, but our main aim and focus is on ourselves, and getting the three points”.
Having been involved in a number of moves across England over the past few years, Keane's recent transfer to LA Galaxy came somewhat out of the blue. He had said as recently as May that he would like to move to America a few years from now but, when the opportunity to move there arose last month, he jumped at the chance to play in the MLS.
“The opportunity came up. Things change, I didn't think the opportunity would come at this stage, so I was quite happy with it. Privately, maybe in the last year or so, I've been to America on plenty of occasions. I've enjoyed it over there, so it was just an opportunity that came at the right time for me”.
One problem associated with his move to America, which people feel may shorten his career with Ireland, is the long flights that he will have to take in to enable his passage from LAX to Dublin Airport, as well as the time difference involved. However, Keane's time at Galaxy has been so short so far, that he hasn't become burned by these factors just yet.
“At the moment I feel fine, I've settled straight back into it. I didn't fully settle (in Los Angeles), I was only over there a week, so I'm not 100% into the time difference. So, I slotted straight back into the time difference over here. I don't see that as a factor”.
Having grown up in Tallaght, Keane is particularly excited by the prospect of local side Shamrock Rovers competing in the Europa League Group Stages, especially as it brings them face-to-face with his old employers, Tottenham Hotspur. He believes that Rovers' presence in the European football can only be good for Irish football, and he hopes they can do themselves justice when the action gets underway.
“I was delighted to see them in the draw. I think it's great for Irish football in general. Especially for Rovers being in Tallaght. I'm sure it's going to be a great occasion for them. I'm not sure where the game is going to be, whether it's played in Rovers' ground. It won't be easy for Tottenham to go there. Tottenham are the favourites, but it's great for Irish football.... I'd obviously like to see Rovers progressing, it would help Irish football in general, but it is obviously going to be a tall order”.
Interestingly, Rovers did some good business in the transfer window yesterday, by signing Keane's former Spurs team-mate Rohan Ricketts. Keane remembers well the ability that Ricketts possessed, and thinks that he will prove to be a success with the Airtricity Premier Division Champions.
“I know Rohan, he's a good player. I reckon he'll be good for them. He's a free transfer. He had great ability when he was at Tottenham. I think he'll be a good addition to the squad”.
A good campaign in Europe for Rovers would certainly bring a feel-good factor to Irish soccer, as would a successful qualifying campaign for the Irish team. Spirits appear to be high in the Ireland camp at the moment, and Keane gets a sense that they are in the right mood to push on and making something out of a watertight group.
“I think the feeling is obviously very, very high that we could make it through. If you look at where the teams are, we're up there. That's the most important thing, these two games are going to be massive. It's important that we try and get maximum points. If not, at least not to lose any games. These next two games may dictate the qualifying”, Keane added.
Starting alongside him in attack will be Ireland's record goal-scorer Robbie Keane who, as has been the case since Steve Staunton stepped into the managerial hotseat, will also Captain the side in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening. Keane believes that Long's performances over the past 12 months have merited a place in the starting eleven, though he was quick to point out that he doesn't mind whether it is Long or Kevin Doyle that he plays with, as he believes that they are both very accomplished players.
“If you look at his (Long's) performances for Ireland in the last year or so, they've been very, very good, and his performances for his new club (West Brom). The two of them (Long and Kevin Doyle) are very similar players, so to me it's no different whether it is Shane or Kevin. The two of them are equally as good as each other, and they have the same qualities”, Keane stated.
The other eye-catching change in personnel sees former Bohs star Stephen Ward (now of course at Wolves with Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Foley) stepping into the left-back breach instead of the injured Kevin Kilbane. The Derby County man's back injury means that his run of 66 consecutive competitive appearances for Ireland is at an end, and Keane was full of praise for a player who has given magnificent service to the Boys In Green.
“He has been absolutely tremendous for Ireland. I don't think he probably gets the credit that he deserves. He's been a great, great player for this country, and I'm sure he'll continue to be so. He has back problems, that is what has ruled him out, but it really is a great achievement what he has done”.
“Especially in this day and age, a lot of players get a lot of injuries now, silly injuries. So, for Kevin to keep going at 34, to continue playing at the highest level, and not get many injuries, that's a great achievement in itself”.
Looking ahead to the challenge of Slovakia, Keane knows only full well that it is a must-win game for Ireland, and he revealed that no-one in the squad is looking beyond this game, even though a trip to Russia awaits them on Tuesday.
“I think every game is a must win game at this stage because, where we are, it is important that we don't lose any games now. These two games are the two toughest games that we could face. We go into every game wanting to win, so it won't be any different tomorrow. I'm certainly not going into the game thinking of Russia or the game after. I'm concentrated on tomorrow, and focused on getting three points”.
As an extension of that, the former Spurs striker feels it is important that they try and win the group if possible, as the play-offs have not always been kind to Ireland in the past.
“Well, our main aim is to win the group. You don't go into any group and think that you want to finish second. Circumstances change that, but we're prepared to win the group, we've been in play-offs way too many times. It hasn't gone our way on a few occasions”.
One potential plus for Ireland going in this game is that Slovakia may well be without their Captain, the gifted Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik. Keane is fully aware of how important a player Hamsik is, and also of the qualities in their side, but feels that Ireland should be focusing on themselves rather than on the opposition.
“Obviously, he's their captain and he's a good player. We're focused on our job rather than worrying too much about the Slovakia team. They're a good team, and we're well aware of that, but our main aim and focus is on ourselves, and getting the three points”.
Having been involved in a number of moves across England over the past few years, Keane's recent transfer to LA Galaxy came somewhat out of the blue. He had said as recently as May that he would like to move to America a few years from now but, when the opportunity to move there arose last month, he jumped at the chance to play in the MLS.
“The opportunity came up. Things change, I didn't think the opportunity would come at this stage, so I was quite happy with it. Privately, maybe in the last year or so, I've been to America on plenty of occasions. I've enjoyed it over there, so it was just an opportunity that came at the right time for me”.
One problem associated with his move to America, which people feel may shorten his career with Ireland, is the long flights that he will have to take in to enable his passage from LAX to Dublin Airport, as well as the time difference involved. However, Keane's time at Galaxy has been so short so far, that he hasn't become burned by these factors just yet.
“At the moment I feel fine, I've settled straight back into it. I didn't fully settle (in Los Angeles), I was only over there a week, so I'm not 100% into the time difference. So, I slotted straight back into the time difference over here. I don't see that as a factor”.
Having grown up in Tallaght, Keane is particularly excited by the prospect of local side Shamrock Rovers competing in the Europa League Group Stages, especially as it brings them face-to-face with his old employers, Tottenham Hotspur. He believes that Rovers' presence in the European football can only be good for Irish football, and he hopes they can do themselves justice when the action gets underway.
“I was delighted to see them in the draw. I think it's great for Irish football in general. Especially for Rovers being in Tallaght. I'm sure it's going to be a great occasion for them. I'm not sure where the game is going to be, whether it's played in Rovers' ground. It won't be easy for Tottenham to go there. Tottenham are the favourites, but it's great for Irish football.... I'd obviously like to see Rovers progressing, it would help Irish football in general, but it is obviously going to be a tall order”.
Interestingly, Rovers did some good business in the transfer window yesterday, by signing Keane's former Spurs team-mate Rohan Ricketts. Keane remembers well the ability that Ricketts possessed, and thinks that he will prove to be a success with the Airtricity Premier Division Champions.
“I know Rohan, he's a good player. I reckon he'll be good for them. He's a free transfer. He had great ability when he was at Tottenham. I think he'll be a good addition to the squad”.
A good campaign in Europe for Rovers would certainly bring a feel-good factor to Irish soccer, as would a successful qualifying campaign for the Irish team. Spirits appear to be high in the Ireland camp at the moment, and Keane gets a sense that they are in the right mood to push on and making something out of a watertight group.
“I think the feeling is obviously very, very high that we could make it through. If you look at where the teams are, we're up there. That's the most important thing, these two games are going to be massive. It's important that we try and get maximum points. If not, at least not to lose any games. These next two games may dictate the qualifying”, Keane added.
About Daire Walsh
Daire Walsh began reporting for Extratime in 2009, when he covered Kildare County's games in the League Of Ireland First Division. He currently reports on games involving the league's Dublin sides and also Bray Wanderers. … View Full Profile