UEFA Euro 2012: Robbie Keane adamant that Ireland can do a Greece on it and win Euro 2012

Captain says team aren’t in Poland to make up the numbers

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Giovanni Trapattoni and Robbie Keane

Photo by EDDIE KEOGH

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Ireland captain Robbie Keane wants his team to draw inspiration from the Greeks and take Europe by storm on Sunday.

Greece famously won the 2004 European Championships in Portugal as complete outsiders.

The Irish are 80-1 shots to win Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine but Keane is taking heart from that Greek success ahead of the opening game against Croatia in Poznan on Sunday.

The Ireland captain said: “I hope it’s the case that we can do what Greece did in 2004.

“We’re not coming to this competition to make the numbers up. We’re here to do as well as we can for the country. Hopefully we go as far as we can and try and see if we can win it.

“It’s vitally important to get off to a positive start. In any competition, you want to start off as well as you can and try and get points on the board.”

Goalkeeper Shay Given is adamant he will be fit for Sunday’s opener as manager Giovanni Trapattoni looks to start with the team that took to the field against Hungary in Monday’s scoreless draw.

Keane added: “We are desperate to get started now. It’s been a long few weeks. It’s been very good, the atmosphere around the place has been brilliant.

“Everybody is just looking forward to Sunday now.”

Croatia go into Sunday’s game on the back of another injury blow after Hamburg midfielder Ivo Ilicevic was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury.
 

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