The wearing of the green

Liam Mackey reflects on the extraordinary highs — and lows — of Roy Keane’s international career.

THE UPCOMING friendly between Ireland and Chile at Lansdowne Road may be of long-term importance to Steve Staunton and his new-look squad as they plan for Euro 2008 but, as international football matches go this summer, it’s not exactly the game most likely to set the pulse racing.

Nevertheless, the fixture will have a special resonance for one ex-international, because it was against the same South American opposition and in the same venue that Roy Keane made his senior debut for his country 15 years ago almost to the day.