Robbie Keane has rubbished claims that manager Giovanni Trapattoni should resign after Ireland’s Euro 2012 embarrassment.
The Irish players flew home to little fanfare on Tuesday morning, the first time an Ireland team has not been met by a civic reception after a major finals.
Three defeats in Poland – to Croatia, Spain and Italy – and just one goal scored have led to calls for Trap’s head in some quarters.
But Keane, speaking after Monday night’s 2-0 defeat to Italy in the final Group C fixture – believes the manager is under no pressure with two years to run in his contract.
“Not a chance,” Keane told reporters when asked about calls for Trapattoni to step down.
“That’s just going against everything we’ve done in the last four years. We have played that way for four years under Trap so I think it would be wrong to come into a tournament and try to change that.
“It’s the manager’s decision so we were happy for the last four years with the way we’ve playing. This tournament, we can talk about tactics and stuff like that, but I don’t think it’s anything like that.
“It’s been disappointing for everyone of course. You want to do the best you can and make the country proud. I don’t know whether the players could have done any more than they did. They gave 100%.
“I think sometimes in life you just have to hold your hands up and say we’ve been beaten by better teams.”
Ireland did offer a little more against the Italians on Monday night but even that wasn’t enough as they went down to goals from Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli and had midfielder Keith Andrews sent-off late in the game.
Keane added: “We’re disappointed. We wanted to try and give something to the fans and the players to go home with.
“It is disappointing that we didn’t get something out of the game. It was a game that going in to it we knew we could get something out of it, but we were beaten again by two set-piece goals, which we haven’t been getting beaten in that department in a long time.
“I think we got in their faces a lot more. We knew from playing against Italy in previous games about getting into their faces and not give them much time and that was the case tonight.
“We played well in some parts but without again creating too many chances for ourselves. To get beaten from a corner from probably the smallest player on the pitch is disappointing.”
Keane also dismissed suggestions the team had been poorly prepared and over-trained for the tournament.
He said: “Everything has been fine. There is no excuses. We can stand here and say this, that and the other, but we couldn’t have prepared as well as we have.
“We can’t be making excuses. We have been beaten by teams that are superior and it’s as simple as that.”
Asked about his own future and any plans to retire, the LA Galaxy striker said: “It’s not really the right time to be even talking about it. The whole squad has come back off a tournament that we are all disappointed so it wouldn’t be the right time.
“It’s not whether I’m making my mind up or not saying anything and carrying on. Who knows? I’m not really thinking about it to be honest. We’ll just leave it at that.”
7 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.HorsesInMdstrm | Jun 20, 2012, 08:41 PM EDT
Not an embarrassment at all. They played hard, if not well, but Ireland is a small nation. Just don't have the font to draw the players from, and that's not likely to change to provide a top level 14 players. A bunch of countries didn't make the tournament. With the available personnel, they won't win with Trap at this level, but they won't win with anyone else either. Let's just enjoy the matches, cheer for them when they do well, and realize that no one will take away our first born cat if they lose. I like Robbie's no excuse statement.
misneac | Jun 20, 2012, 08:24 PM EDT
I have a big problem with all the posted comments .As far as I am aware Trapattoni wasnt playing ,Keane was . So we cant expect Trap as they call him to score ,but we do expect Keane and Duff or some of these overpaid sissies to score .All this so called analysis is a load of horse manure ! Anyway the "best fans in the world " will have another gallon of beer and bawl out for the 1000th time ,youse will never beat the Irish ! What an embarrassment to the nation !
Bythebay | Jun 19, 2012, 03:12 PM EDT
Correction, no, on the story link version they're still showing Roy Keane. Colossal stupid eejits.
Bythebay | Jun 19, 2012, 03:10 PM EDT
Looks like they've changed the photo to Robbie Keane from Roy Keane. Irish Central is the worst online so called news source I've ever seen. None of the contributors are journalists or know what a journalist is. I can't imagine paying for the paper versions of what these people produce. Money down the drain.
PhlutiePhan | Jun 19, 2012, 10:59 AM EDT
Robbie Boy is a loveable lad. However, Trap has to go. The Italians don't even play his system anymore. It is outdated. Shots on goal were 17-2, shots 27-6, possession 60-40. Robbie was a nonfactor and many times was seen in front of the goal playing defense. There was no attempt to play offense. Duff was the best player on the pitch. He set up Andrews for a perfect heel back on a free kick and Andrews blasted it on the ground right at the goaltender. McClain should have been given a go. The team was the oldest at Euro and it showed. They were "poorly prepared". They definitely "overtrained". Italy showed itself to be a bunch of whiners and butchers. Dunne and St. Ledger were excellent. Given played very well. You can't win if you can't score and to play your best offensive player back on defense is inexcusable. Robbie's loyalty is commendable. However, let's take a big breath of fresh air and look at reality.
offalymike | Jun 19, 2012, 10:24 AM EDT
Ithink if you are going to quote robbi keane you should put his picture up instead of that jackass roy keane.
ciaran1433 | Jun 19, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT
This article is entirely based on Irish captain ROBBIE KEANE'S reaction to Ireland's disasterous Euro 2012 campaign yet there is a picture of ROY KEANE. I think the author Patric Counihan does not his arse from his elbow.. I mean he doesn't know his Robbie from his Roy.