Keane savages Irish reaction to Spanish humbling
Source: AFP |
June 16, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FORMER Ireland captain Roy Keane launched a furious broadside at his compatriots reaction to their 4-0 loss to defending champion Spain which saw them become the first team to exit Euro 2012.
The 40-year-old, who infamously walked out of the Irish training camp before the 2002 World Cup finals, was furious when he listened to midfielder Keith Andrews post match interview.
Andrews praised the Irish fans, who had despite the heavy defeat stayed to the end drowning out the Spanish supporters in the stadium with their moving rendition of the 'Fields of Athenry'.
However, despite Andrews also saying that the team had contributed to its own defeat and had been chasing 'shadows' Keane, who is working as a pundit for English channel ITV, pounced on the remarks made about the fans.
"I think the players and supporters have to change their mentality," said Keane.
"It's just nonsense to say how great the supporters are. The supporters want to see the players do a lot better and not give daft goals away like that.
"Let's change that attitude towards Irish supporters. Let's not kid ourselves, they want to see their team winning. We're a small country, let's not just go along for the sing-song now and again."
Keane, whose stunned teammates at the 2002 World Cup picked themselves up and against the odds without their one world class player reached the second round where they went out on penalties to Spain, said the players had a brutal reality check too.
"It was a wake-up call for these players. The goals they gave away tonight."
Keane's blunt comments didn't chime with the prevailing mood as even the French TV commentary team stopped commentating on the game, instructed to do so by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger acting as their pundit for the game, so the viewers could listen to the singing.
It also left a lasting impression on FAI chief John Delaney.
"The abiding memory we will take away from this match will be the many thousands of Irish fans singing the Fields of Athenry right up to and beyond the final whistle."
They also captured the Polish hearts.
"At the end of the match, when the world champions were resting on their laurels on the field, Irish fans stood and sang for five minutes, as if victory were theirs. How can you not love Ireland?" asked the centre-left Gazeta Wyborcza daily.
Former Ireland coach Mick McCarthy believes the old guards will want to bow out of probably their last finals with a bang on Monday. "They won't want to retire on the back of that performance, that's for sure," he said. "I would be worried if I was Italy, because Ireland are going into the last game with nothing to play for except pride. So we've got nothing to worry about."
The 40-year-old, who infamously walked out of the Irish training camp before the 2002 World Cup finals, was furious when he listened to midfielder Keith Andrews post match interview.
Andrews praised the Irish fans, who had despite the heavy defeat stayed to the end drowning out the Spanish supporters in the stadium with their moving rendition of the 'Fields of Athenry'.
However, despite Andrews also saying that the team had contributed to its own defeat and had been chasing 'shadows' Keane, who is working as a pundit for English channel ITV, pounced on the remarks made about the fans.
"I think the players and supporters have to change their mentality," said Keane.
"It's just nonsense to say how great the supporters are. The supporters want to see the players do a lot better and not give daft goals away like that.
"Let's change that attitude towards Irish supporters. Let's not kid ourselves, they want to see their team winning. We're a small country, let's not just go along for the sing-song now and again."
Keane, whose stunned teammates at the 2002 World Cup picked themselves up and against the odds without their one world class player reached the second round where they went out on penalties to Spain, said the players had a brutal reality check too.
"It was a wake-up call for these players. The goals they gave away tonight."
Keane's blunt comments didn't chime with the prevailing mood as even the French TV commentary team stopped commentating on the game, instructed to do so by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger acting as their pundit for the game, so the viewers could listen to the singing.
It also left a lasting impression on FAI chief John Delaney.
"The abiding memory we will take away from this match will be the many thousands of Irish fans singing the Fields of Athenry right up to and beyond the final whistle."
They also captured the Polish hearts.
"At the end of the match, when the world champions were resting on their laurels on the field, Irish fans stood and sang for five minutes, as if victory were theirs. How can you not love Ireland?" asked the centre-left Gazeta Wyborcza daily.
Former Ireland coach Mick McCarthy believes the old guards will want to bow out of probably their last finals with a bang on Monday. "They won't want to retire on the back of that performance, that's for sure," he said. "I would be worried if I was Italy, because Ireland are going into the last game with nothing to play for except pride. So we've got nothing to worry about."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
