Keane welcomes pressure

THE man in whom a nation's hopes of a European Championship match-winning goal are invested, yesterday cheerfully accepted his responsibility. More than that, welcomed it.

Robbie Keane spoke of his sense of anticipation ahead of tomorrow's match against Switzerland in Basle and made it clear he was impatient to get on to the pitch. Ireland, he emphasised, are on a mission.

With 16 goals in 45 internationals, people tend to forget that the Spurs striker is still only 23.