We must take our chances: Robbie
Robbie Keane Photo: Getty Images
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Wednesday November 18 2009
IT'S all or nothing! Robbie Keane will lead his men out at Stade de France tonight with one chance left to climb aboard the World Cup train and he will leave nothing behind in the attempt.
While Giovanni Trapattoni spoke about energy, mentality and inner strength, the Irish skipper, already hinting at days not too far down the road when he will be past his best, put the spotlight firmly where it should be.
"We need to create more clear-cut chances. We had a lot of half chances in Croke Park and there's credit due to the opposition goalkeeper who did well to make sure we didn't convert one. They won't give us many opportunities and when we get one, we must take it. We need more than one score to win the game. If we get the first goal, the pressure is back on France and it doesn't matter if we do it early or late," said Keane.
The Irish skipper knows that his chances of another appearance in the World Cup finals will depend on events in Paris tonight. After that, will he be too old?
"Maybe so. It's not something I've thought about. Let's get this one done and then we'll decide again," said Keane. "I think we can turn this around but we can't go into this game thinking we're going to win on penalties or anything like that.
"We're professional footballers and we want to win - we play to win and it doesn't matter what anyone else says. There's always upsets and I think there is definitely a twist in this game. Over the years, it suits us better when we come up against bigger nations. We do better against them -- we struggle when we're the favourites," added Keane.
Like his skipper, Trapattoni still believes he can turn around a 1-0 deficit, even though no team has ever managed that in a play-off after losing the first leg.
"We know what we must do. Our attitude, our mentality can bring us a goal. I am confident. In football, every game changes, the situation is not always the same."
- From Paul Hyland in Paris
