Keane front and centre for Ireland

For all the talk of Martin O’Neill and his horses for courses, there was a familiar look to Ireland’s pre-match press conference at the Veltins Arena last night as Robbie Keane took his place beside the national team manager, writes Brendan O'Brien.

Yet again.

It was Steve Staunton who first tossed Keane the armband in 2006 and, though O’Neill declared that no conclusions should be drawn from Keane’s presence on the podium last night, it seems unlikely the striker will not be centre stage again this evening.