Robbie Keane says his status as one of the veterans of the Irish team means he’s relishing playing in the European Championship finals all the more.

Stephen Ward reckons Giovanni Trapattoni has made the right choice by making Ireland’s WAGS welcome at Euro 2012.

Anyone who has watched Spain’s two opening Euro 2012 games will not be surprised that La Roja have statistically made a blistering start to the tournament.

THE most sobering aspect of Thursday night was that, really, this was how it felt to be insignificant. This was how it felt to be a Honduras 2010, a Costa Rica 2006 – in other words, one of the worst teams in a tournament.

Kevin Kilbane has called on Ireland’s veterans to stay on and help the Boys in Green reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Beaten convincingly by Croatia.

It was a night when the worst fears of Ireland supporters came to pass.

The inquest has begun, the tribunals of investigation have been convened and, already, there’s a whiff of cordite in the air.

The scenario Italy feared from the start in this tournament was needing a win against Ireland with Spain and Croatia both in a position to qualify with a draw.

Game over, game on — that was the clear message from Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday as Ireland try to pick themselves up from the disappointment of their Euros exit in time for Monday’s valedictory game against Italy.

It is often said that a week is a long time in politics. The same goes for tournament football.

Shay Given has brushed aside Roy Keane’s criticisms of the Republic of Ireland following their defeat to Spain, including the former midfielder’s assertion that players and fans should not be content “just to go along for the sing-song every now and again”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has given his backing to the idea of an all-Ireland soccer entity, as it would make us a “far stronger team”.

The Green Army has put the smile back into Euro 2012 and has been nominated for a Fair Play Award for its tournament-defining mass sing-along moment.

The man behind the Ross O’Carroll-Kelly phenomenon Paul Howard has gone back to his roots to finally give his obsession with the force of nature that is Roy Keane a voice — through the man’s loyal sidekick Triggs.

Alex Ferguson has been handed some good news after it was confirmed new signing Shinji Kagawa would not be called up for Olympic duty by Japan.

It says an awful lot when the highlight of your evening comes hours before kick-off.

Living in a smallish apartment with as many as five other men is nobody’s idea of heaven on earth, but for the duration of Ireland’s European championships campaign, it’ll do.

Old habits die hard.

Victory is the great redeemer.