HE’S IRELAND’S RECORD goal-scorer, the national team skipper and a player who travels further than most to line out in green.
But Robbie Keane has long been a much-maligned member of the Boys in Green squad, amongst a section of Irish football fans.
Ahead of the crucial World Cup qualification double header with Sweden and Austria in the coming weeks, John O’Shea says we’ll keenly feel Keane’s absence when he finally hangs up his cartwheel celebration.
“Believe me, when Robbie Keane does retire people will appreciate how good he was,” O’Shea told Today’s FM’s Premier League Live.
“That’s one of those things but believe me the players adore Robbie because we know when gets a chance nine times out of 10 it’s a goal for us.
“And that’s so important at international level especially in tight games. Yeah we know he’s not 22 any more — it’s obvious — but he’s still got that ability to score a winning goal for us and at international level in a tight game when you know there might only be one or two chances, we know if one of those fall to Robbie, generally we’re going to be celebrating.
“To have that asset in the team — whether it be penalties and the confidence he shows, experience, winning free-kicks at vital times — there’s lots more goes into it. And also around the camp he’s brilliant for everyone and obviously as the captain he shows by example what it means to play for Ireland.”
Ireland welcome Sweden to Dublin on Friday night before they face Austria away the following Tuesday. The Waterford man hopes it will be two more steps towards another elusive career milestone: a World Cup appearance.
“We’ve come so close a few time but look it’s one of those things, when you look at some of the players who play for their country and the quality of player that they are and they never get to play in a European Championship or World Cup or never even get close to it.
“We’re close at this stage and we know it’s in our own hands as well. If we win our matches we can get to the play-offs ; Germany, we’re fairly certain, are out of reach for first. There will be regret if you never get there but I think I can’t complain with the career I’ve had,” he added.
Listen to the full interview at Today FM here>
