THERE WAS MIXED news on the injury front this afternoon as the Ireland squad took part in their final session before departing for France.
Martin O’Neill, his backroom staff and the 23 players board a flight to Paris tomorrow morning and will set up base in Versailles ahead of their Euro 2016 Group E opener against Sweden at the Stade de France on Monday.
After the tropical weather of the past week, a light drizzle descended on the FAI’s National Training Centre in Dublin, where captain Robbie Keane took full part for a second consecutive day as he looks to shake off a calf injury.
“Robbie started and finished the session and so far there’s no reaction,” assistant manager Roy Keane told the media during his briefing. “He looks as sharp as ever.”
The other main injury concern is Jon Walters (Achilles), who did some work in the gym before going for a light jog. A vital player in the qualification campaign, O’Neill is willing to wait until the last minute for the Stoke City forward to prove his fitness.
“It’s not ideal but he’s feeling a bit better in himself,” said Keane. “The medical staff are looking after him. No player likes to miss any sort of training but I think there has been an improvement. Jon himself is looking more positive about it and we’re probably looking at the end of the week.
“Jon’s a fit lad anyway so hopefully that won’t be a problem for next week. The closer we get to the game, the more Jon will be the biggest worry but we play it by ear. It’s one of those one things.”
Norwich City wide man Robbie Brady also sat out the session after suffering back spasms over the weekend but Keane ensured that it was just precautionary.
“I think Robbie’s fine, he was even tempted to train today,” Keane added. “With us travelling tomorrow, that gives him another day’s recovery.
They’re important players for us and had a big part to play in the campaign. Jon is a big character for us and Robbie has done really well — particularly on his set-play deliveries.”
Brady added: “I feel great. It’s just a precaution today more than anything. I was ready to train but there’s no rush as we’ve more than enough days to get ready for Monday’s game.
“It was just more of a rest day and I’m ready to go. At the time I was thinking ‘this is the last thing I need’ but within a few hours I was getting back to myself.”
Many of the 24 teams competing at the finals have already touched down in France and the squad are now eager to do the same, according to the Ireland number two.
“I wouldn’t say (the players are) frustrated but when we get out there tomorrow we’ll be glad of it,” said Keane. “It will be nice to get on the plane and get over there. When the first game starts, the tournament starts and before you know it we’ll be straight into it.
You always have to remind yourself to enjoy it, even the next few days. Then we get down to serious business next week.”
Having criticised a number of the players in the aftermath of the 2-1 defeat to Belarus at Turner’s Cross last week, Keane also explained how he had apologised for going over-the-top with some of his comments.
“I’m not going to go into what I say or don’t say to the players privately. I spoke to a few of the players, not just Aiden (McGeady), and I’ve done that throughout my career — as a player and as a manager at Sunderland and Ipswich.
“I’ve no problem speaking to players or staff members, if I feel I’ve gone overboard. So that isn’t an issue for me.”
With six days to go until the Boys in Green take on the Swedes in Paris, Keane insists that preparations are coming along nicely.
“I think they’re ready,” he explained. “The game is a few days away yet but if you told me it was tomorrow, no problem. In terms of the balance with the training and the workload, we will get that right in the next few days.
“I said it last week, if any team — Sweden, Belgium, Italy — are going to beat Ireland, they’re going to have to play well.”
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Talk about being blown out of proportion,anything to build up a roy keane story
Looks like we have caught the England bug and undermine our tournament before it even begins
He should doorstep Robbie Brady at every given opportunity, until he can be cohersed to defend properly and not do what he’s actually good at (“his stuff there” as Stylesy might say) beyond a left full!
Exactly Tom. Out to sabotage ourselves. So stupid.
Lads I hope Walters is ok
Love or hate Roy he would be the first name on any team sheet when it comes to being a man manager and a leader! now less negative talk about Roy and Martin and let’s get behind the boys in green! #COYBIG.
Well Karl a great player for sure but he hasn’t a breeze about man management for sure and explains why he’s an assistant manager.
Gwan ROY
God this is being dragged out, slow news days methinks. He was wrong in some of the things he said in public about certain individual’s past careers and abilities, and he’s acknowledged it, now can we move on please.
Keane should go – and might well do so (again) during a major finals. Good though at unannounced/nocturnal visits to players’ houses, mad staring fourth officials, road rage activities, on field GBH from behind – and walking.
Ger is that your cv application for the job, if and when he leaves…
Roy’s also become good at apologising. Now she says – he was wrong to walk out on his country in Saipan, and very sorry for his fast exit at Villa, and for publicly belittling his players during the last few days. And just before a major finals…
It’s funny that people point to Keane having problems with the Villa players for the lack effort and attitude.. He was really proved wrong on that one this season just gone..
Ger have a day of ya gobsh!te
*off. you uneducated buffoon
Wow that told me ..
Call a spade a spade — Roy’s motto. Ok Roy you have psychotic tendencies similar to a lot of top bankers and high achievers. You never managed to control your anger and as explosive as you were on a football pitch (leg Breaker) you are more dangerous now as you don’t have an outlet to vent. To think Delaney and taxpayers pay you for this is astounding.
You can always tell the true knowledgeable fans on this site who understand football and the players and then there are those who just make up stupid comments just to get a reaction! True football understand Roy’s mentality and his determination…#COYBIG
Seriously? So ‘true football fans’, whatever that means, are ok with the assistant manager publicly belittling his players on the eve of a major tournament? I honestly doubt that. I’d say Zlatan and Co are rubbing their hands with delight. Love is blindness I guess.
Sean Easy know you know feck all about Roy or football!. Just another pc whiny git.. It’s a man’s game and everyone needs a kick up the ass now and again!.
Anyone who’s watched football over the last 10 years knows it’s no longer a man’s game. Diving, cheating and overpaid primadonas are the reality of the game today. It’s people like you and John Giles (real football men as you’d term them) who have lost touch with the modern game. Love it or hate it, football and the players are a different breed today.
I’m no Mourinho Karl but I played to a pretty decent level and have been coaching underage for 7 years now so I know a little. Just pointing out the bleedin obvious to the Keane idolisers, usually Cork people or Man Utd ‘fans’, that you don’t slate your own players in public, ever, and especially ahead of a tournament. The clown has had to come out now and apologise which makes him look like an even bigger muppet. Everything he has touched since his heyday at Manchester has turned to muck. The sooner he abandons Ireland, again, the better.
The “it’s a man’s game” thing always confounds me a bit, what about the thousands and thousands of women that play the game, some to a very high and relatively physical standard? I remember even at under 16 level in hurling getting a challenge game against the minor inter county camogie team and they leathering the Shiite out of us!
Well said Sean
Sean good luck with the underage coaching that’s as far as you’ll go
Yeah I’d say you’re the type to roar at the kids Ron. Good man. Come back when you know something about the sport and your remit extends beyond viewing English soccer from a bar stool with a pint of Bulmers in your hand.
Facepalm!
I’m glad somebody put the leash on him. It’s not all about him. It’s not the Roy Keane show. He’s such an attention seeking primma Donna. Suppose that happens when you’re a pampered millionaire.
The usual anti Keane clowns on spouting bull again. Good to tell players they not playing at a good standard in the hope it hits a nerve and hopefully get a reaction. Not wrong about mcgeedy either couldn’t even get into a crap Everton side which says it all. If anybody watching belerus game thinks players don’t deserve a public dressing down obviously doesn’t know football. Those players were like headless chickens. Well done Keane keep them all on their toes can’t afford to carry passengers
It’s always about Roy when the media get involved. Such a predictable bunch.
Former Manchester United midfielder Lee Sharpe has revealed that he and his ex-teammates used to call Roy Keane ‘Schitzo’.
Lee sharpe?!?! You lost whatever argument you were trying to make right there
Another silly comment, Beal. Lee was in the team/dressing room – you?
Still talking out of your hoop I see ….
Matt, you’re a child…