World Cup Play Off
10.11.2001 at 18:00 - Lansdowne Road
Captain courageous, Roy Keane, will put the pain of his injured knee aside for 90 special minutes at Lansdowne Road today when Ireland face Iran in the World Cup qualifying tie (6 pm). Keane, who has missed the last five of Manchester United matches, yesterday admitted he was not "too happy" with the condition of his knee but he stressed it would not prevent him from contributing his usual wholehearted performance.
Keane showed he is capable of rising above the inconvenience of his injury by taking part in a full-blooded training session for the second day running. He was his usual dominating self in a high-tempo, intensive, match in which all 24 members of the squad took part at Lansdowne Road.
The only surprise surrounding Keane's contribution to an up-beat Irish session was the fact that he wore the dreaded yellow shirt that signified he had a "Macedonia" in the previous day's session.
The shirt is ritually presented to the player deemed to have been the least impressive in the previous day's match and its title refers to that horrendous day in Skopje when Ireland were beaten 1-3 by Macedonia in a World Cup qualifying tie in 1997.
Manager Mick McCarthy put the perky attitude of the Irish players into context when he laughingly referred to the manner of Keane's selection for the shirt : "He got the yellow jersey because he was voted the worst in training yesterday and it was great fun watching Clinton Morrison give it to him.
"Clinton took the vote yesterday and, of course, when he's counting it out - and it is usually about six or seven votes is enough to lose it and Roy got about 13 - and Clinton was counting it out with gusto - 11, 12, 13 - and then announced 'the winner is Roy Keane'.
Morrison's little cameo reflects the good 'esprit de corps' within the Irish camp. The fact that the newest member of the group - Morrison is 22 and has just two appearances - can assume centre stage and dole out 'punishment' to the team's most celebrated and accomplished player reflects credit on all concerned.
But, for Ireland's sake, one hopes that the influential Keane will not be hindered when a critical tie places the greatest demands on the players. It was evident that Keane played hard and trained hard over the past two days but without a match for three weeks he will put his body through a demanding test today.
He said: "The knee settled down in the last few days and it is a case of wait and see. I'm not too happy with it. I've done what the physio said and the medical people and I think I'll have to try it in a game or two.
"I've had one or two training sessions and I'll just see how it goes over the next week and if I'm still not happy we'll have to see. Today it's not too bad but I need to get to a game and just see what it's like."
Keane admitted that he feared he would have to miss Ireland's crunch tie and as late as last Monday and Tuesday he was not too confident. But a training session on Wednesday was more encouraging and clearly there's been a gradual improvement.
Keane's involvement is vitally important for Ireland. Apart from the fact that he is the obvious leader of the group and lifts his team-mates by his very presence in the dressing-room, his reputation is such that any team he is involved with demands more respect.
The injury is to his left knee, not the limb that kept him out of action for almost a full season, and he stressed it was not a major issue.
"I'll just see how these games go and if there is any sort of reaction I'll have to go back to the specialist but I'm taking a day at a time because some days it is better than others.
"If it was a friendly I would not be here but I was trying to get myself fit for the Liverpool match last week. It wasn't a case that I was saving myself for this match but I would always listen to the medical people and accept what they say and in the last few days it has improved.
"It was never a case of missing a United match deliberately, I would never do anything like that because every game is important. But it is lucky I had those extra few days to recover and it isn't anything really major, it is just something that is affecting me. I don't come over here expecting any pats on the back for showing up, I don't think there will be any sort of risk involved, the injury won't get any worse by playing another couple of games."
He complimented Alex Ferguson for taking such an understanding view of his situation and added: "Alex has been brilliant about it, he knows how important this match is but the Liverpool match came just too soon and the manager has been as good as gold about it."
Keane is one of the few players remaining in the Irish side who played in the World Cup in 1994 in the USA and highlighted the importance of the current group of youngsters making it to the finals next year, important for them personally and for their professional careers.
"Throughout this campaign we had been underdogs but now all of a sudden we're favourites to qualify. I just hope we go out and do what we've done throughout the campaign and that is to go out and work hard for each other and give the team we're playing the respect they deserve and hopefully that will be good enough.
"We realise how important the match is for the country. The players have done brilliant but we know what we've done throughout this campaign goes out the window if we don't qualify."
He said he was fortunate he has enjoyed many highlights in his career and he said: "I'd be happy for the other players if we qualify. I've been fortunate but I think the players deserve it, they've worked really hard but no doubt Iran will be saying exactly the same.
"I think the players in this squad need to play in a major tournament now they've done really well in the campaign but I think they need now to go up to the next level and that is to play in this tournament."
Keane dealt with the conference before the massed press corps that has gathered in Dublin for the match with typical pragmatism. He followed his consistent line of pointing out the respect he always bore for the opposition and reminded people that it was a two-legged affair.
" The game is not over tomorrow, we know that the game is over 180 minutes, that's a long time in football and patience is important for the players and for the fans.
" I've got all the confidence in the world in the Irish lads to do the business, whether I was here or not, but we've got to treat this team with the respect they deserve. These games are there to be enjoyed - playing Iran in the World Cup, it is up to the players to go out and do themselves justice and I think, fingers crossed, they'll do that."
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